Small business owner medical expense deductions in Canada

There are a multitude of small business owner medical expense deductions available by using a Health Spending Account or Private Health Services Plan.  

Here's a quick peek at the types of deductions.

A Health Spending Account is a tax planning vehicle that enables small business owners in Canada to pay for 100% of their personal medical expenses through their business.

Qualified Medical Practitioners

1.            Acupuncturist (R.Ac.)

2.            Anaesthesiologist

3.            Audiologist

4.            Chiropodist

5.            Chiropractor (DC)

6.            Dentist (DH, RDH, DT, RDT, DMD)

7.            Denturist (DH,RDH,DT,RDT,DMD)

8.            Dermatologist

9.            Gynaecologist (Ob.Gyn)

10.          Naturopathic Doctor (ND)

11.          Neurologist

12.          Obstetrician

13.          Oculist

14.          Ophthalmologist

15.          Optician

16.          Optometrist (OD)

17.          Orthodontist (DH, RDH, DT, RDT,

18.          DMD)

19.          Orthopaedist

20.          Osteopath (DO)

21.          Paediatrician

22.          Physician (MD)

23.          Physiotherapist (B.PhysT, B.ScPhysio,

24.          B.Physio, CPTA) Podiatrist (DPM)

25.          Practical Nurse (LPN)

26.          Psychiatrist (C.Psych)

27.          Psychologist (PsyD)

28.          Registered Nurse (RN)

29.          Social Worker (RSW, RCC, MFT)

30.          Speech Therapist (SLP)

31.          Surgeon

32.          Therapeutic Massage Therapist

33.          (NHPC)

34.          X-Ray Technician

Eligible Prescribed Medical Devices and Equipment

35.          Devices designed to assist walking where the individual has a mobility impairment

36.          Devices designed to assist a person to use bathtubs, showers or toilets

37.          Devices designed to enable individuals with a mobility impairment to operate a vehicle

38.          Devices used by individuals suffering from chronic respiratory ailment or a severe chronic immune system deregulation

39.          Electronic or computerized environmental control systems for individuals with severe and prolonged mobility restrictions

40.          Electronic speech synthesizers for mute individuals

41.          Equipment that enables deaf or mute persons to make and receive telephone calls including visual ringing indicators, acoustic coupler, and teletypewriter.

42.          External breast prosthesis

43.          Extremity pumps or elastic support hose to reduce lymph edema swelling

44.          Heart monitors or pace-makers

45.          Hospital bed, if required in-home

46.          Inductive coupling osteogenesis stimulator

47.          Monitors attached to babies identified as being susceptible to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

48.          Optical scanners or similar devices for a blind individual to enable him/her to read print

49.          Orthopaedic shoes or boots

50.          Oxygen tent

51.          Power operated guided chair installation for stairways

52.          Power operated lifts and transportation equipment designed to allow access to buildings, vehicles or to allow wheelchair access to a vehicle

53.          Rehabilitative therapy, lip reading and sign language training

54.          Synthetic speech systems, Braille printers and large printon-screen devices that enable blind persons to utilize computers

55.          Specially trained animals to assist blind, deaf, or severely impaired persons, including the cost of its care and maintenance

56.          Syringes

57.          Television closed caption decoders

58.          Wigs if required as a result of disease, accident or medical treatment

More small business owner medical expense deductions  

59.          Ambulance charges

60.          Art therapy

61.          Artificial eye or limb

62.          Artificial kidney machine, including installation and operating costs

63.          Basic cost of Medic Alert jewellery

64.          Blood pressure devices

65.          Blood test

66.          Blood transfusion

67.          Bone marrow transplant

68.          Brace (limb or spinal)

69.          Cardiographs

70.          CAT Scan

71.          Catheters, catheter trays, tubing,adult diapers and disposable briefs required by incontinent persons

72.          Christian science counselling

73.          Colostomy pads

74.          Crutches

75.          Dental services (crowns, fillings,cleanings, lab tests, etc).

76.          Denture repair / replacement

77.          Devices to aid the hearing of a deaf person including bone-conduction telephone receivers, extra-loud audible signals and devices to permit volume adjustment of telephone equipment above normal’ levels

78.          Diabetic supplies

79.          Diathermy

80.          Fertility treatments

81.          Hearing Aid batteries

82.          Hernia truss

83.          Home-maker service & Home care (attendant must be a non-relative – only eligible when other household members are physically incapable of home care)

84.          Injections

85.          Insulin or substitutes

86.          Iron lung

87.          Laryngeal speaking aid

88.          Lasik eye surgery

89.          Liver Extract – inject-able for pernicious anaemia

90.          Massage Therapy

91.          Metabolic tests

92.          MRI scan

93.          Nicotine patch

94.          Operating room fees

95.          Organ transplant

96.          Oxygen

97.          Pre-natal/Post-natal treatments

98.          Prescription birth control pills & devices

99.          Prescription drugs

100.        Prescription glasses / contact lenses

101.        Private/Semi-private hospital room fees

102.        Reasonable costs for adapting a residence to accommodate a disabled person (ex: wheelchair ramp, lifts, bath facilities, etc)

103.        Reconstructive surgery

104.        Rocking bed for polio patient

105.        Spinal fluid tests

106.        Stool examinations

107.        Urine analysis

108.        Vaccines

109.        Vision Care

110.        Vitamin B12 – for pernicious anaemia

111.        Weight loss programs (medical portion only, for example nutrition counselling, lab fees for blood work)

112.        Wheelchair

113.        X-Ray

Travel Expenses 

114.        Travel Expenses Medical expenses incurred while travelling may be eligible if you do not have alternate insurance, or if the service is not readily available in your locale. Travel must be necessary for services or expenses to be eligible and may include mileage, meals, accommodations, etc.

115.        Air Cleaners – must be prescribed by an MD for a respiratory problem.

116.        Air conditioners, humidifiers/dehumidifiers, cooling units-eligible if accompanied by a detailed letter from an MD stating it is required for a medical condition.

117.        Athletic therapy – must be performed by an MD,

118.        Physiotherapist, or Registered Massage Therapist

119.        Biofeedback – must be performed by a qualified medical practitioner (ex: MD, RN, ND, DC, R.Ac)

120.        Botox injections – eligible if required for a medical condition

121.        Circumcision – must be performed by an MD

122.        Clinical Hydrotherapy – must be prescribed by an MD for arthritis or musculo skeletal disorder.

123.        Cord Blood Collection – qualified only when detailed letter by MD is provided that outlines the procedure is for testing purposes only.

124.        Cosmetic Surgery – Must be for medical or reconstructive purposes and not to purely enhance appearance. A Medical Doctor’s note is required.

 Are you a Canadian small business owner with no health insurance or looking for an alternative? Over 30,000 small business owners across Canada have been using the Olympia Health Spending Account since 1997.