Question:
I was Self Pay and had heard that WLS is a full Tax detuction

   — ekmeadows (posted on January 5, 2006)

January 5, 2006
I believe it has to be deemed medically necessary, which I think most wls are and then it is an itemized deduction on schedule A that is subject to 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. So for example if your adjusted gross income is $30,000 than anything over $2,250 is deductible on schedule A ( 30,000 x .075). If you don't itemize you loose the deduction.
   — ckreh

January 5, 2006
Okay first I must say I live in the state of Wisconsin so I don't know if the tax law is different where you stay.I got a paper from my WLS doc. and it states, How Can Losing Weight Impact Your Tax Return? (I know it's a lot to read but it should answer your question sorry it's so much.) ANSWER-Obese Americans who take action,under the care of a physician, to lose weight now have the option to deduct expenses for approved weight loss regimens, drugs and nutritional counseling. According to the IRS, deductions are now allowed for unreimbursed expenses for weight loss treatment if the cost is more than 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Although the agency designated obesity as a disease in April 2002, the ruling does not define the condition, but rather requires a doctor's diagnosis before the surgery or nutrition counseling cost can be deducted. Prior to the IRS designating obesity as a disease, Americans were only able to claim the cost of weight loss programs that were recommended by a physician to treat a specific disease associated with obesity.
   — NISHA122083

January 5, 2006
Elaine, Yes! You can definitely claim your surgery on your taxes! There is a specific form for medical claims - be sure to use that! (You can find it at the IRS web site.) My husband and I both had our surgeries in Spain with Dr. Aniceto Baltasar. We were able to claim: all transportation expenses (airfare, taxi, train, rental car, etc.), all medical expenses (surgery, surgeon's fees, X-rays, medications, tests, equipment, etc.), lodging ($50 for the patient and $50 for 1 support person per night). Food is not tax deductible. It makes a huge difference on the taxes! It really helped us out! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 5, 2006

   — Laura G.