medical bills - on vacation

[bstaxes]

Client on vacation (2000 miles away from home). Went to ER and was admitted to hospital for 1 week. Doctors would not let her fly or drive home. Husband had to get motel and rental car for 3 weeks. Would you deduct motel, food and rental car as medical expense? Flight had to be changed with additional cost, medical expense???

Then client asks if they can take the medical mileage for the plane. HaHa.

It appears that 50% of the clients I spoke to have odd problems. Boy could I write a book. This is only the beginning of tax season.

[chuck]

Good place to start PUB 502.

[bstaxes]

Looked at that pub but it did not fit the bill. Thanks.

[jainen]

>>Would you deduct motel, food and rental car as medical expense?<<

In my opinion, these are probably not deductible as medical expenses. It does not seem to me that the patient's travel was for the purpose of obtaining medical care, even though she needed to change her schedule. Since the patient was already in the hospital before the lodging cost was incurred, I don't see how you can say such lodging was needed because the patient could not travel alone.

But in my opinion other facts and circumstances MIGHT support the deduction for lodging, not to exceed $50 per day. As far as I know meals are non-deductible in any case, and I am not aware of any authority to deduct transportation costs of a spouse who is not getting medical care.

In other words, the reason the pub did not fit the bill is that it does not fit the bill.