Wigs, taxes and insurance

Wigs-anyone written off on taxes or got insurance company to pay for a wig or prosethesis?

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Permalink Reply by Annette Stewart on September 16, 2009 at 7:44am
This past year when we filed our taxes the lady that filed them said that I coud not use my wigs to count as medical! We argued back and fourth because it should be considered a medical device. I spend several thousand dollars on wigs every year and there's got to be a loop hole around that. Also I've never been fortunate enough to find an insurance company that will pay for a wig, but I have heard several people on here say that their insurance company paid for their wig.
Permalink Reply by Leah Larson on September 16, 2009 at 9:46am
well, I'm going to try it this year so I will keep you updated. I have a ton of other expenses from an accident so I'm already over the 3% of income
Permalink Reply by myem on September 16, 2009 at 12:24pm
Annette,
You might want to look for another accountant. The wigs are tax deductible with a doctor's prescription. You can also get reimbursed from your pre-tax account at work if you have one.
Myem
Permalink Reply by Annette Stewart on September 18, 2009 at 8:04pm
You mean all this time, all I needed was a prescription from the doctor!!!! Why in the world didn't she tell me that! UGHHHH!!!
Permalink Reply by JUDITH on September 16, 2009 at 11:53am
Hello i recently got my doctor to give me a prescription for a hair prosethesis, the insurance company pays for some of the cost of the wig of your choice, call your insurance carrier first, they can tell you if the cover hair prosethesis not all do.
Hope this helps.
Permalink Reply by Leah Larson on September 16, 2009 at 12:45pm
Thanks ladies! You're a wealth of information and with a doctor's excuse I sure was going to write it off! I just talked to my ins. company and they will cover $1k, minus a $200 deductible, but $800 is better than nothing! I hope my next post is a photo with my new wig!
Permalink Reply by Victoria Michele on September 17, 2009 at 9:51am
That is great news!!!! I am so happy about that!! Every little bit helps!
Permalink Reply by Karen's Wigs on September 16, 2009 at 4:19pm
Years ago, according to the American Cancer Society, New York State will consider wigs purchased for medical purposes tax deductable. Also, you might want to ask your doctor for a "cranial prosthesis" as some insurers will cover that but not a wig. Good luck!
Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on September 16, 2009 at 8:28pm
IRS publication # 502: 2008

You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38).

Example.

Your adjusted gross income is $40,000, 7.5% of which is $3,000. You paid medical expenses of $2,500. You cannot deduct any of your medical expenses because they are not more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Wig

You can include in medical expenses the cost of a wig purchased upon the advice of a physician for the mental health of a patient who has lost all of his or her hair from disease.

Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org
Permalink Reply by Don Seal on September 17, 2009 at 11:54am
GET A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR FOR A CRANIAL HAIR PROSTHESIS. THE PRESCRIPTION SHOULD HAVE A DIAGNOSIS CODE FOR AA, AU, OR AT WITH THE DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE. SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL PROVIDE ONE CRANIAL HAIR PROSTHESIS PER POLICY YEAR AND SOME WILL PAY FOR ONE IN YOUR LIFETIME. THE PRESCRIPTION MAKES THE WIG A MEDICAL DEVISE AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY SALES TAX ON THE WIG.
Permalink Reply by Barbara on September 17, 2009 at 5:22pm
My insurance company SAYS they will pay, but I am still waiting. But I expect it will eventually come through. the wig shop was very knowledgeable and struggled through several call to my dermatologist to get the prescription correctly written so it would be approved. Cranial prosthesis, not "wig". The woman at the shop told me which companies would cover and which wouldn't cover them for AA. (If you lose your hair during cancer treatment or during AA, don't you still feel the same in public?!?!?) She told me United Healthcare - some plans – do cover AA, and mine apparently does. So I will have coverage for about 1-1/2 wigs - lifetime coverage of $1000.

It is worth pursuing, and even appealing if you are turned down. Just be sure to get the right prescription and diagnosis numbers on the paperwork. As far as taxes - if you have apresciption, isn't that a medical expense?
Permalink Reply by Lee on September 18, 2009 at 2:41am
I had united healthcare and they only gave me $500....Im so frustrated with the insurance fight, its not even funny. I busted my ass working overtime just to pay for my wigs....and Im still in debt. I have done everything I can possibly do, except sue.

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