Health expenses
How do you claim health expenses?
Note
The Med 1 is no longer available. Health expenses are claimed through your Income Tax (IT) return. If you are PAYE taxpayer, you also have the option to claim relief in real time during the year.
You can claim relief on health expenses through myAccount or Revenue Online Service (ROS).
You can only claim for expenses that you have receipts for. You can claim relief on the last four year's health expenses.
If you have private health insurance, you can claim tax relief on the portion of those expenses not covered by your insurer.
How to claim if you are a PAYE taxpayer
The quickest and easiest way to claim relief is through myAccount.
In myAccount, you can claim relief by completing your IT return at the end of the year, or in real time during the year.
To claim relief and complete an IT return for 2019, and subsequent years, please follow these steps:
- sign into myAccount
- click on ‘Review your tax’ link in PAYE Services
- request a Statement of Liability
- click on ‘Complete Income Tax Return’
- in the ‘Tax Credits & Reliefs’ page select ‘Health’ and ‘Health Expenses’
- complete and submit the form.
To claim relief and complete an IT return for 2018, and prior years, please follow these steps:
- sign into myAccount
- click on 'Review your tax' link in PAYE Services
- select the Income Tax Return for the year you wish to claim for
- in the ‘Tax Credits & Reliefs’ page select ‘Health’ and ‘Health Expenses’.
- complete and submit the form.
To claim relief in real time, please see Real-Time Credits for more information.
If you are jointly assessed, it is the assessable spouse, or nominated civil partner, who needs to apply.
Most people who claim this relief online receive their tax refund, if due, in five working days.
If you are unable to use myAccount, please contact your Revenue office.
How to claim if you are self-assessed
Sign into ROS and complete the health expenses section on your annual IT Return (Form 11).
Health expenses paid by more than one person
Each person can individually claim the part of the expense paid by them.
Health expenses paid over different years
You may receive health care in one year, but pay for it the following year. In this case, you can choose to claim the relief either in the year you:
- received the care
- or
- paid for the care.
- Example
You have an illness in December 2018 which requires treatment. Your health expenses cost €1,000 in total. You pay €700 in 2018 and the remaining €300 in 2019.
You have two options when claiming tax relief for these health expenses.
Option 1 - you can claim €1,000 for the 2018 tax year.
Option 2 - you can claim €700 for the 2018 tax year and €300 for the 2019 tax year.
Receipts needed in order to make a claim for health expenses
You are required to keep all original receipts for six years when making a claim for health expenses. You do not need to submit these receipts (this includes Med 2 forms) when you make a claim. However, we may request to view them if your claim is selected for checking.
The Revenue Receipts Tracker service in myAccount is the quickest and easiest option to store your receipts. For more information, please see Manage your receipts with the receipts tracker.