Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Weird presciptions?

I had my first Rheumy appointment of the new year. We discussed a buch of topics but therapy and prevention were the main topics.
She started to offer up prescriptions for weird things like, a bed, hot tub, Bikram Yoga, all theraputic. I couldnt believe it.
She said that a few of her AS sufferers have asked and recieved these things for prevention and therapy.

She said there was a way to write this stuff off. How???

I am in Canada.

Has anyone else been given these types of prescriptions???

If so please show me the way.
If not, I will do more investigating and post my results.

bridgesan

Hi there,
I'm originally from BC (just in Alberta for school/work), and have never heard of how to write that stuff off. I would be very interested in hearing about it though!
Please keep me posted.
Thanks!

Here in the U.S., if a doctor prescribes it for your health care, it is tax deductible. My doctor has prescribes wigs when I lost my hair, my gym membership and many things and that makes them tax deductible. He told me he would prescribe a hot tub or even a pool (but I told him he would also have to hire a pool man)

Hope you get what you need to be more comfortable.

Blessings.
Possi

Did you ever find out about writing these thins off ?
I would be very interested - especially in the bed.

Thanks,
Maggie

Maggie,

When I had my surgeries I needed a Hospital bed and I rented one. I got a script from my Dr. and then Joanne put it through her plan at work and they paid 80% of the cost. Then 2 years later I found out that here in Quebec the CLSC can help out with all that stuff and then got it for me for nothing. They just put in a lift for the bathtub so that I can soak now and it could have cost me over $2000.00 but the CLSC paid for it. They also got me a chair for my shower and a reacher as well. Right now we are waiting for the Quebec Gov to modify the shower and the side door and a lot of other things as well. I should be getting it all done within the next few months they say.
So if people in Canada are looking for things check with your Provincial Gov and see what they have for programs.

John

I was thinking more of a really good mattress.
I don't have any health benefits but would love to be able to put it on my income tax return. Worth looking into anyway.

Thanks John

Hi there, in Canada you can right off medical expenses (as long as you have a prescription for the non-medication things like beds and such) on your income tax. You have to have spent a certain percentage of your income on them before it applies. Not sure what the percentage is, but there should be something on the Revenue Canada website about it.

Hope that helps.

Hugs,

I believe (?) for us Canucks, an income tax credit only applies to any amount you've spent on medical that exceeds 3% of your income (includes meds, medical devices, physio, eyewear etc)... after which I think the formula works out to calculate roughly 6% of which can become credit to ON provincial tax, and roughly 15% of which becomes credit to Fed tax, (or vice versa). So it's only about 21% of total medical spent that actually applies as a deduction... and only on portion that is over 3% of your net. If you can't afford something to begin with then this provides only minimal help. But, it's better than none!

Of course I could be off slightly, or perhaps there might be another route I'm unaware of ... and certainly there would be considerably more assistance available for those with a disability determination.


Hugs,
mig

Here's the link to the CCRA that lists allowable medical expenses. If you are married, the spouse with the lower income of the 2 should claim the medical expenses on their return for the both of you. Hope this clarifies...

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it519r2-consolid/it519r2-consolid-e.html#P223_48711

About hot tubs:

58. If a medical practitioner prescribes treatments in, for example, a hot tub or a whirlpool bath the cost of the treatment qualifies as a medical expense under paragraph 118.2(2)(a) if paid, for example to a public or licensed private hospital. However, if a hot tub or whirlpool bath is purchased, the cost does not qualify as a medical expense since it is not prescribed in Part LVII of the Regulations

Ah bummer. I was hoping.