OAS Guides

Eligibility checks

Can I claim the medical expense tax credit?

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The medical expense tax credit lowers your income tax when you pay health costs that are not paid back to you. You can claim the part of your eligible costs above 3% of your net income or a yearly dollar amount, whichever is less. This check tells you whether your costs are likely high enough to claim.

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Did you pay health costs that were not paid back to you?

Count costs for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, your children under 18, and other relatives who depended on you. Count only the part that insurance or a government program did not, and will not, pay back.

What were the costs mostly for?

Which tax return are you thinking about?

You can claim costs paid in any 12 months in a row that end in the tax year, if you did not claim them before.

Did your eligible costs add up to more than $2,834?

Add up all the eligible costs for the 12 months you chose, for you, your spouse or partner and your children under 18. Leave out anything paid back to you.

Did your eligible costs add up to more than $2,890?

Add up all the eligible costs for the 12 months you chose, for you, your spouse or partner and your children under 18. Leave out anything paid back to you.

Were your costs more than 3% of your net income for that year?

Net income is on line 23600 of your tax return. To find 3%, multiply it by 0.03. For example, if your net income is $30,000, 3% is $900.

Likely not eligible

You likely have nothing to claim.

Why

You can only claim the part of a cost that has not been, and will not be, paid back to you. If insurance or a plan paid it all, there is no claim.

What to do next

  1. If you paid premiums for a private or retiree health plan, those often count as a medical expense. Look at your pension stub or plan statement, then run this check again.
  2. Your own share of Canadian Dental Care Plan or provincial drug plan costs also counts, if no one pays it back.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Look at what you paid yourself.

Why

You can claim the part of a health cost that was not paid back to you. For example, if your insurance paid 80% of a bill, you can claim the other 20%.

What to do next

  1. Gather your receipts and plan statements for the year. Check your share of drug plan deductibles and co-pays, and any health plan premiums you paid.
  2. Then run this check again.
  3. Or call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at 1-800-959-8281, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

These costs likely cannot be claimed.

Why

Over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, gym or fitness club fees, and purely cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening, are not eligible medical expenses.

What to do next

  1. If you also paid for prescriptions, dental care, glasses, hearing aids, health plan premiums or care, run this check again for those costs.
  2. See the full list of eligible expenses in our guide or in the CRA guide RC4065.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

It depends on what the costs were for.

Why

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) keeps a long list of eligible medical expenses. Some items, such as many devices, also need a prescription or a note from a medical practitioner.

What to do next

  1. Look for your expense in our guide or in the CRA guide RC4065, Medical expenses.
  2. Or call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time.
  3. If your costs are eligible, run this check again.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely eligible

You can likely claim the medical expense tax credit.

Why

Your eligible costs are above the threshold: 3% of your net income or the yearly dollar amount, whichever is less ($2,834 for 2025; $2,890 for 2026). You claim the part above it. The credit lowers the income tax you owe.

What to do next

  1. Enter your total on line 33099 for you, your spouse or partner and children under 18, or on line 33199 for other relatives who depended on you. Tax software subtracts the threshold for you.
  2. Pick the 12 months in a row, ending in the tax year, with the highest costs.
  3. It is often better for the spouse or partner with the lower net income to claim the couple's costs, as long as that person has enough tax to use the credit.
  4. In a nursing home, the full amount you pay can count. In a retirement home, only the attendant care part counts, so ask for a statement. Travel of at least 40 km each way, for care not available closer to home, can also count.
  5. Do not send receipts with your return. Keep them in case the CRA asks.
  6. If you still earn money from work, you may also get the refundable medical expense supplement (line 45200). Pension income does not count as earnings, so most fully retired people do not qualify.
  7. Also claim your provincial or territorial medical expense credit. In Quebec, Revenu Québec has its own rules.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Likely not eligible

Your costs are likely too low to claim for that year.

Why

You can claim only the part of your costs above 3% of your net income or the yearly dollar amount, whichever is less ($2,834 for 2025; $2,890 for 2026). Your costs are below both.

What to do next

  1. Add in costs for your spouse or partner and your children under 18. You can combine them on one return.
  2. Try a different 12-month period ending in the tax year. Costs not claimed before can be counted in the period you choose.
  3. Remember health plan premiums and your share of drug plan co-pays. They often count.
  4. Keep your receipts. When someone dies, costs can be claimed for any 24-month period that includes the date of death.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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We cannot tell from your answers

Add up your costs to find out.

Why

You can claim the part of your eligible costs above 3% of your net income or the yearly dollar amount, whichever is less ($2,834 for 2025; $2,890 for 2026). For example, with a 2025 net income of $30,000, 3% is $900. If you paid $2,500 in eligible costs, you could claim $1,600.

What to do next

  1. Gather your receipts for the 12 months you chose and add them up. Leave out anything paid back to you.
  2. Find your net income on line 23600 of your tax return or on your Notice of Assessment.
  3. Then run this check again. Tax software or the CRA worksheet also works this out for you.

More help

This check is general information, not legal or financial advice. OAS Guides is not part of, or connected to, the Government of Canada or Service Canada. Only the government office that runs the program can decide whether you qualify, and we cannot promise any result. Figures were last checked on 2026-10-04.

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Where these rules come from

  1. Lines 33099 and 33199: Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return (Canada Revenue Agency)
  2. Medical expenses 2025 (RC4065) (Canada Revenue Agency)
  3. Line 45200: Refundable medical expense supplement (Canada Revenue Agency)
  4. Adjustment of personal income tax and benefit amounts (Canada Revenue Agency)

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