Can You Deduct GLP-1 Telehealth Costs? What IRS Publication 502 Says
GLP-1 costs can count as deductible medical expenses, but only if you itemize and only for the portion of your total medical spending that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. IRS Publication 502 treats prescribed drugs as medical expenses and allows weight-loss costs when they treat a physician-diagnosed disease such as obesity. For most people the deciding factor is not the GLP-1 rules but whether itemizing beats the standard deduction, which is $16,100 for single filers in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Prescribed medicines are deductible medical expenses under IRS Publication 502, and weight-loss costs qualify when they treat a disease diagnosed by a physician, such as obesity.
- You can deduct only the part of total medical expenses above 7.5% of your AGI, and only if you itemize on Schedule A.
- Amounts paid or reimbursed by insurance, an HSA, an FSA or an HRA cannot be deducted again.
- Drugs illegally imported into the U.S. are excluded. "Research use only" products are not prescribed medicines.
- Before Dec. 31, download itemized receipts that separate the clinician fee, the medication and any other charges.
This page explains what IRS publications say. It is not tax advice. A tax professional can apply these rules to your return.
The two hurdles: itemizing and the 7.5% floor
Medical expenses are an itemized deduction. The 2025 Schedule A instructions say you can deduct only the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and that in most cases you'll pay less tax by taking whichever is larger: your itemized deductions or your standard deduction.
That second hurdle is often the bigger one. For tax year 2026, the IRS set the standard deduction at $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household, according to its October 2025 inflation adjustment release. Your deductible medical expenses, plus mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable gifts and other itemized items, need to beat that number before itemizing helps.
A worked example, clearly hypothetical
Hypothetical numbers for illustration only: A single filer has an AGI of $60,000. The 7.5% floor is $4,500. If they paid $7,000 out of pocket for qualifying medical care during the year, only $2,500 is deductible as a medical expense. That $2,500 helps only if it pushes their total itemized deductions above $16,100. If they have little else to itemize, the standard deduction still wins and the GLP-1 spending changes nothing on the federal return.
Households most likely to benefit tend to have high medical spending relative to income, or large other itemized deductions. Run the numbers before assuming the deduction is worth the record-keeping.
What Publication 502 says about GLP-1 costs
The current IRS Publication 502 is the 2025 edition, for 2025 returns. As of October 2026 the IRS has not released a 2026 edition, and the publication directs readers to IRS.gov/Pub502 for legislation enacted after it was published. Check that page before you file for 2026.
Three entries do most of the work for GLP-1 patients:
- Medicines. You can include amounts you pay for prescribed medicines and drugs. A prescribed drug is one that requires a doctor's prescription for its use by an individual. Brand GLP-1s like Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic and Mounjaro are prescription drugs.
- Weight-loss program. You can include amounts you pay to lose weight "if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease)." The IRS's nutrition and wellness FAQ lists diabetes as another example and says that otherwise "the cost of a weight-loss program is not a medical expense."
- Laboratory fees. Lab fees that are part of medical care count.
Expense by expense
| Expense | What the IRS guidance says | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Brand GLP-1 medication with a prescription | Prescribed medicines are includible | Pharmacy receipts showing drug, date and amount paid |
| Clinician visit or consult fee | Payments for diagnosis or treatment of disease are medical care; Pub 502 does not address telehealth fees by name | Itemized invoice showing the clinical service |
| Monthly "membership" bundling care and drug | Not addressed directly; the medical-care portion is what qualifies | A statement breaking the bundle into its parts |
| Lab tests | Lab fees that are part of medical care are includible | Lab invoice or platform receipt |
| Diet food, meal plans, gym dues | Generally not includible; narrow exceptions for physician-substantiated special food and separate weight-loss fees at a gym | Physician documentation if you claim an exception |
| Supplements sold by the platform | Only if recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific diagnosed condition | The recommendation in writing |
| Anything paid by insurance, HSA, FSA or HRA | Not deductible again | Account statements so you can exclude these |
Source: IRS Publication 502 (2025) and the IRS nutrition, wellness and general health FAQ.
Shipping and handling are not addressed in Publication 502. If a platform rolls shipping into the medication price, your receipt will show one amount; if it charges shipping separately, ask a tax professional how to treat it rather than guessing.
Comparing what providers charge?
See how participating providers break down consult, medication and membership fees.
Paid links. We may earn a commission; it never changes what we write. See all options. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
The compounded and imported drug caveats
Publication 502 excludes two categories that come up in the GLP-1 market.
- Imported drugs. You generally can't include the cost of a prescribed drug brought in or ordered and shipped from another country unless it was legally imported.
- Federally illegal controlled substances. These are excluded even where state law allows them. This does not describe GLP-1s, which are not controlled substances, but it shows the IRS ties deductibility to federal legality.
Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide is a grayer area. A compounded drug dispensed on a valid prescription by a state-licensed pharmacy is still a prescribed drug in the ordinary sense, and Publication 502 does not single compounded products out. But the FDA notes on its page on unapproved GLP-1 drugs (updated Oct. 1, 2026) that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and it has warned companies selling semaglutide and tirzepatide labeled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption." A product sold without a prescription is not a prescribed medicine under Publication 502's definition. If your GLP-1 came from a compounding pharmacy, keep the prescription record and pharmacy receipt, and ask a tax professional if you are unsure.
HSA, FSA and the no-double-dipping rule
If you paid for a GLP-1 with a tax-free HSA distribution or got reimbursed from an FSA or HRA, that amount is out. Publication 502 says you can't include expenses paid with a tax-free HSA distribution or reimbursed through an FSA or HRA, and the IRS FAQ says a reimbursed amount cannot also be deducted on your return. Insurance payments are excluded the same way.
In practice, people who pay for everything through an HSA usually have nothing left to deduct for those costs. If you paid some months by card and some through the HSA, only the card-paid months can go on Schedule A.
Timing: why December matters
Publication 502 says you can include only the medical and dental expenses you paid during the year, and generally can't include payments for care you will receive in a future year. Two practical points follow:
- Prepaid plans. If a platform sells a 6- or 12-month prepaid package, the portion covering care in the next year may not be includible this year. Ask for an invoice that shows the service period.
- Records disappear. If you might cancel, switch platforms or lose portal access, download receipts now. Our separate guide on exporting records before canceling covers what to save.
Your year-end records checklist
- An itemized receipt for each charge, showing date, amount and what it was for (clinician fee, medication, labs).
- The pharmacy name and the drug on each medication receipt.
- Documentation that a clinician diagnosed a specific condition, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes. Your visit notes or intake summary usually show this.
- HSA, FSA and insurance statements so you can subtract anything already reimbursed.
- Your prior-year AGI as a rough guide to where the 7.5% floor might fall.
You generally do not attach these to your return. Keep them with your tax records so you can support the deduction if the IRS asks.
Questions to ask your platform before Dec. 31
- Can you provide an annual statement that separates clinician fees, medication and other charges?
- Does the statement list the diagnosis or reason for treatment?
- Will I keep access to receipts after canceling, and for how long?
Where this guide stops
This page summarizes IRS publications as of October 2026. It does not cover state income tax rules, self-employed health insurance deductions, or how the 2026 edition of Publication 502 may change. It is not tax advice. For your situation, use the IRS's own pages or a qualified tax professional, and for medical questions about GLP-1 treatment, talk to your prescriber.
Reviewing your GLP-1 costs?
Compare participating providers and ask each for an itemized annual statement before you commit.
Paid links. We may earn a commission; it never changes what we write. See all options. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Frequently asked questions
Are GLP-1 medications tax deductible?
Prescribed medicines are deductible medical expenses under IRS Publication 502, and weight-loss costs qualify when they treat a physician-diagnosed disease such as obesity. You must itemize, and only spending above 7.5% of your AGI counts.
Can I deduct GLP-1 costs I paid with my HSA or FSA?
No. Publication 502 excludes expenses paid with tax-free HSA distributions or reimbursed through an FSA or HRA, and the IRS says reimbursed amounts cannot also be deducted.
Do telehealth consult and membership fees count?
Publication 502 does not mention telehealth fees by name. Payments for diagnosis or treatment of disease are medical care, so ask your platform for an itemized statement that separates clinical fees from other charges.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
The IRS set it at $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household for tax year 2026. Itemizing medical expenses only helps if your total itemized deductions exceed it.
Sources
- IRS Publication 502: Medical and Dental Expenses (2025)
- IRS: Instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040) (2025)
- IRS: Frequently asked questions about medical expenses related to nutrition, wellness and general health
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (IR-2025-103)
- FDA: Concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss
Medical disclaimer: This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a licensed clinician who knows your history. Approvals, labels, coverage and prices change; check the linked sources and talk with your prescriber or pharmacist before making decisions about any medication.