✅ Potentially Deductible Wellness & Mental Health Expenses (With a Doctor's Prescription)

⚠️ These must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional and used to treat or manage a diagnosed medical condition to be considered a qualified medical expense under IRS Publication 502.

🧠 Mental Health Treatment

• Psychologist or psychiatrist appointments

• Licensed therapy or counseling sessions (in person or telehealth)

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Neurofeedback therapy

• Medication for mental health conditions (antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.)

• Inpatient psychiatric treatment or residential mental health facilities

• Group therapy sessions (if medically recommended)
  
  

✈️ Mental Health Travel (Under Prescribed Treatment Plan)

Deductible IF travel is for treatment, not recreation:

• Airfare to and from a mental health facility

• Hotel/lodging expenses (up to $50 per night per person for patient + 1 support person)

• Ground transportation (Uber, gas, train, bus, etc.)

• Parking and tolls

• Therapy or treatment costs at destination
  
  

Not deductible:

• Sightseeing, tourism, excursions

• Meals during travel

• Luxury or spa resorts without licensed medical staff

• Personal time before/after treatment

• Airfare or travel not primarily for treatment

🧘‍♂️ Physical & Emotional Wellness (Prescribed)

• Gym membership (if prescribed for obesity, hypertension, diabetes)

• Yoga classes (if prescribed for anxiety, PTSD, etc.)

• Meditation training or apps (if used in clinical care plan)

• Massage therapy (if prescribed for injury, anxiety, fibromyalgia, etc.)

• Acupuncture

• Chiropractic care

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Sauna or hot tub (if medically necessary, e.g., arthritis)

• Cold plunge equipment (if medically justified for inflammation or pain)

• Biofeedback therapy
  
  

🥗 Diet, Supplements & Weight Management (Prescribed)

• Weight loss programs (only for treatment of specific disease)

• Nutritional counseling or dietitian services

• Specialty foods (only the cost above normal diet, and only with medical necessity)

• Meal replacement shakes (if prescribed)

• Supplements or vitamins (only if prescribed to treat a condition)
  
  Example: Iron for anemia, folic acid during pregnancy, B12 injections
  
  

💻 Medical Equipment & Home Health Items

• Air purifiers (for asthma, allergies – with doctor’s note)

• Water filters (if required for medical condition)

• CPAP machines and supplies

• Orthopedic shoes or inserts (prescribed)

• Medical alert systems

• Compression garments (for varicose veins, lymphedema, etc.)

• Standing desks or ergonomic equipment (if prescribed for back/spinal issues)

🐶 Pet & Animal-Related Medical Deductions

✅ Deductible (with documentation):

• Service animals (seeing-eye dogs, seizure dogs, psychiatric service animals)

  • Purchase/training costs

  • Vet bills

  • Food and grooming

• Emotional support animals (ESAs)

  • May be deductible with a letter from a licensed mental health professional

  • Ongoing care costs (vet bills, food) only if tied to your treatment plan
    
    

❌ Not Deductible:

• Regular pet care for non-service pets

• Adoption fees or routine vet visits

• Obedience training unless for service work

• Travel with pets for non-medical reasons

📚 Mental Health-Related Education & Support (Prescribed)

• Attendance at structured, medically supervised health retreats

• Educational programs for mental illness management (e.g., ADHD, anxiety)

• Online therapy platforms (Talkspace, BetterHelp, etc., with documented care)

• Support group costs (e.g., addiction recovery, grief support)

🧾 Other Possible Qualified Expenses (with medical reasoning)

• Home modifications (e.g., soundproofing for sensory conditions, light therapy boxes for SAD)

• Transportation to and from medical or therapy appointments

• Lodging for out-of-town therapy programs

• Training or certification for caregivers

• Health monitoring devices (heart rate monitors, wearable ECGs, etc.)

❌ Commonly Confused But Not Deductible

• Spa retreats, resorts, or wellness vacations

• General gym memberships or yoga classes for fitness

• Self-help books, meditation apps (unless part of prescribed treatment)

• Organic food or general supplements for “better health”

• Over-the-counter medication without a prescription

• Pet therapy not tied to treatment of a medical condition

• Travel purely for relaxation or scenery