BUY A PLANE TICKET TO ANYWHERE OUTSIDE US AND WALK INTO A

[cpamomfromtexas]

PHARMACY AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU NEED!

HERES SOME OF THE COUNTRIES: MEXICO, ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHERS.

TAKE A VACATION TOO! SINCE THE DOC WROTE A SCRIP, WRITE OFF THE VACATION ON YOUR TAXES AS A MEDICAL EXPENSE. I TOTALLY EXPECT THIS TO BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE! SINCE THE TOTAL COST WILL BE LESS THAN STATESIDE, THERE'S NO REASON IT CAN'T BE DEDUCTED.


I KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT DO THIS!

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Goood idea!

Please don't shout, though.

All caps is hard on the eyes.

[cpamomfromtexas]

2. Sorry, I got too excited when I heard about a $2000 prescription!

[longship]

3. Why are you YELLING?

Please don't yell. We can hear you fine without it.

Re: your post.

This is a good idea. I don't know if anybody would want to go to Argentina (but maybe Terra del Fuego is nice this time of year).

I went over to Mexico with wife and friends a couple of years ago. I have a very long history of migraine headaches, I've had thousands of them in my life. So while I was there I picked up the Mexican equivalent of Imitrex, which is available over the counter in Mexico. It's expensive, $40.00 for six pills. The US cost is much, much more.

When I crossed the border, I declared it. No big deal except for the fact that, like many over the counter Mexican meds, Imitrex is a prescription med in the US. I had forgot a copy of my script. The very nice customs man let me go but informed me that the next time I should probably bring my script. Just a caution to those who might want to travel to Mexico for meds.

[donco6]

4. Sorry, but you CANNOT write this off as medical expense.

You might as well be telling people paying taxes is illegal.

[Sgent]

5. The IRS says differently

From IRS Publication 502:

Transportation
You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical care.
You can include:

* Bus, taxi, train, or plane fares or ambulance service

<snip>

Trips
You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for transportation to another city if the trip is primarily for, and essential to, receiving medical services. You may be able to include up to $50 per night for lodging. See Lodging, earlier.

You cannot include in medical expenses a trip or vacation taken merely for a change in environment, improvement of morale, or general improvement of health, even if the trip is made on the advice of a doctor. However, see Medical Conferences, earlier.

...

That being said, the question revolves arround "essential", and I agree that would be questionable. In addition, its important to note that prescription drugs obtained overseas are not deductible unless:

• the drugs are legal in the US
  
• the drugs are consumed overseas, or:
  
• the drugs were imported to the US with permission of the FDA

[donco6]

7. It has to be for medical services, not to pick up drugs.

I'd like to see the look on the auditor's face when you pull out that stack of receipts.

[cpamomfromtexas]

8. There is no requirement that you fill scripts in the US

[donco6]

9. Well, of course not.

But the rules are for medical SERVICES, not filling prescriptions.

But you can do whatever you want. I just wanted to make sure other people know that you can't do this and think the IRS won't have a problem with it.

[cpamomfromtexas]

11. Certainly you can, just as you can deduct medical mileage

And if your doctor recommends an exercise routine, you can deduct a health membership too

[cpamomfromtexas]

12. Just because you enjoy the scenery doesn't mean you can't deduct it!

[donco6]

13. Good luck with that. eom

[cpamomfromtexas]

15. I always win audits

[cpamomfromtexas]

16. My evaluation of essential

My test for essential is this and quite simple

If it's too damned expensive here, then it's "essential" to go get it there!

[Initech]

6. A vacation to Brazil is probably cheaper than what I pay for insurance.

[radwriter0555]

10. Why go all the way to brazil when the clinics and pharmacies in Mexico

are excellent?

I've bought medications in MX, and have been treated by doctors and dentists there as well. All the care was tops and on par with anything I've ever received in the USA.

[cpamomfromtexas]

14. Just another option for those who might not know about other countries

Plane tickets are cheap, so why not have lots of options for getting less expensive (and just as good) health care and meds.