Drowning

[feuervogel]

I wonder if my medical bills this year will be enough to itemize on our taxes.

BCBS sent my Explanation of Benefits ("This is not a bill") for the CT. Apparently, the CT (and likely the MRI) at the radiology place counts as a hospital for billing purposes, so they'll get to bill me for the $250 deductible.

In addition to the $250 for my admission in August, the $150 for the ER visit, dozens of $20 and $30 copays for office visits, my regular prescription, and the many tried-and-failed medications. And Ben's fillings.

Then there are Isis' $3000+ vet bills this year, which obviously can't be counted.

I really need to be able to get back to work before the entire buffer in my account is gone.

Comments

[beth_leonard]

I found totaling my annual medical expenses to be one of the most annoying parts of doing my taxes. You can do a rough estimate to decide if you're anywhere close to more than 7% of AGI, and if you are, start keeping good records now. It takes me literally weeks every Feb/March to double-check all the receipts.

--Beth

[feuervogel]

I don't really know what our gross income will be this year. Far less than the last time I spent a lot on medical bills (2008 - Invisalign and LASIK; I was full time then). I've got all the prescription receipts and many of the MD receipts and the hospital bills in a folder, along with the OTC things (probiotics, advil, sudafed, pepto) since July. I plan to get annual billing reports in early January from my GP, the pharmacy, and the dentist.

Just checked; my YTD gross is just over 10k right now, and that includes my mileage and per diems. Ben's is about 45k. How much more I gross depends on whether I get any shifts and stop being sick all the time.