Qualified Medical Expenses: What Counts and How to Save on Your Taxes

Understanding qualified medical expenses can unlock meaningful tax savings, so it’s worth knowing exactly what qualifies and how to plan. Qualified medical expenses include a broad range of costs paid for diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing illness or disease. Typical items include doctor visits, hospital services, prescription medications, medical equipment, and certain dental or vision care. The IRS generally requires that you itemize deductions and that the expense be primarily for medical care; routine wellness or lifestyle expenses without a medical purpose usually don’t qualify. When it comes to gut health testing or related therapies, these can count as qualified medical expenses only if a healthcare professional prescribes or prescribes you as part of a treatment plan, so it’s wise to confirm the specifics with a tax professional and keep thorough documentation. Practical tips to maximize your savings start with good record-keeping. Save and organize all receipts, invoices, and statements for any qualifying medical costs, including those paid out-of-pocket for you or a dependent. If you have a plan that allows it, use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for eligible expenses with pre-tax dollars. Consider timing purchases to maximize deductions in a given year, and be mindful of which costs qualify under current rules—some premiums, insurance costs, or long-term care expenses may have special treatment. Finally, remember that federal rules focus on itemized deductions for medical expenses, while many states have their own rules and credits, so it helps to verify both federal and state guidance each tax season. InnerBuddies brings a scientifically backed set of tools and insights that can support informed medical decisions around gut health. Its modular Gut Health Operating System powers both consumer-facing tests and corporate programs, including a Gut Microbiome Health Index (a 0–100 score developed through an exclusive collaboration with EAFIT University) and detailed views of Bacteria abundances and Bacteria functions. The platform also offers Target Group analysis for themes like Healthy Aging, Endurance Sport, and Skin & Hair Health, plus personalized nutrition advice and tailored probiotic/prebiotic recommendations based on your unique gut microbiome. These capabilities are accessible as direct-to-consumer gut tests or via white-label solutions for businesses. If you’re exploring a gut health program that could support medical care, you can learn more about these offerings here: InnerBuddies microbiome test, InnerBuddies Gut Health Membership, and for partners, InnerBuddies Become a Partner. Whether you’re evaluating eligible medical expenses now or planning ahead, pairing your tax strategy with a proactive gut health program can be a smart move. Review your qualifying medical costs, consult a tax professional for the specifics on deductions and credits, and consider how InnerBuddies’ evidence-based insights and personalized support could fit into a medical care plan. For more information on InnerBuddies’ product and partnership options, explore the links above and start a conversation about how gut health data can support both health and financial outcomes.