December 21, 2017
Tax-Deduction Resources for Adult Diapers and Incontinence Supplies
By Lynn Wilson, Co-Founder of The CareGiver Partnership
During tax season and while planning for the upcoming year, finding ways to be reimbursed for incontinence supplies is a question often asked of our product specialists and searched for on our blog.
As the costs of medical care and supplies continue to rise, consumers want to be reimbursed for as many expenses as possible. The good news is, there are several areas worth checking into.
According to U.S. Internal Revenue Service guidelines, the cost of incontinence supplies may be tax-deductible if shown they’re necessary to relieve the effect of a specific disease. A physician can diagnose medical incontinence and may be able to advise on reimbursement, depending on one’s health and financial situation.
Other options include Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or older or with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease, and Medicaid, health insurance that helps many people who can’t afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills.
Be sure to also check your telephone book’s county government section for aging and disability resource centers, or ask your local senior center to help you find resources. Check if your area has a diaper bank, where products are donated by organizations or individuals, then given to people who cannot afford them; some diaper banks include incontinence supplies for adults.
Here are some resources to get started:
- Government and senior resources
- IRS.gov: Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Eligibility Tool
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Overview
- IRS.gov: Health Savings Accounts
- SeniorServices.org: Find a Local Senior Center
- Attends: Reimbursement
- The CareGiver Partnership: Incontinence overview