Health Expenses Claim (PAYE)

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gerprem08

Registered User
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Hi

My wife needs to get her back sorted.
Visited a chiropractor yesterday and was given a three month plan at a cost of about E1200 in total.

Our medical insurance doesn't cover this but i notice that we can claim some expenses back through Revenue (link below)

*link*

One thing is bothering me though, the wording on the page linked above....
You can also claim relief on the following if you are prescribed, referred or advised to, by a practitioner:

Does this mean that she needs to go to GP to be 'referred'?
Even though it's 10000% obvious that she needs treatment from a back specialist....

I don't want us to not be eligible to make a claim because we didn't follow the proper procedure.

Also, what kind of tax refund/credit can we expect?

Thanks in advance,
Ger
 
My understanding is that you need to be referred by GP in order for treatment by chiropractor, osteopath or physical therapist to be eligible for tax relief.

A chartered physiotherapist seems to not need a referral based on some of their websites I scanned but the revenue website isn't 100% clear on that.

The refund would be a 20% tax credit so if you are retired for example and not paying income tax you may not get much benefit from it.

What are qualifying expenses?

This page outlines qualifying expenses for healthcare
www.revenue.ie www.revenue.ie
 
My understanding of the word practitioner is anyone with a suitable qualification in the field. Rules out men in pubs, gym nickel tossers, witch doctors, websites etc.
 
Hi,

€1,200 seems very expensive and one would have to question why the medical insurance won't cover it. They most likely see it as alternative treatment. Has your wife visited a physiotherapist already which would be partly covered by your health insurance if you have day to day cover?
She would need a referral for the physio.

It might raise questions with Revenue if the bill is €1,200.
 
elcato said:
My understanding of the word practitioner is anyone with a suitable qualification in the field. Rules out men in pubs, gym nickel tossers, witch doctors, websites etc.
Click to expand...

I found a more detailed Revenue document.

It defines practitioner as:
a) registered in the register established under section 43 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007;
b) registered in the register established under section 26 of the Dentists Act 1985;

Chiropractors are not in the scope of the 2007 Act.

Strictly speaking, even for physiotherapy therefore, you need to be referred by your GP.
But in practice, using a therapist who is a member of the official organisation in Ireland, is possibly enough...
 
There was an a parliamentary question on this topic relating to physiotherapists, but I can find no update to suggest physiotherapists no longer require referral.

Parliamentary Question: Tax Reflief on Physiotherapy Expenses - Senator Jerry Buttimer

Question to the Minister for Finance (Mr Michael Noonan, TD) To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider facilitating tax relief on physiotherapy expenses without the requirement of a referral from a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer...
jerrybuttimer.ie jerrybuttimer.ie
 
Up Rovers said:
Hi,

€1,200 seems very expensive and one would have to question why the medical insurance won't cover it. They most likely see it as alternative treatment. Has your wife visited a physiotherapist already which would be partly covered by your health insurance if you have day to day cover?
She would need a referral for the physio.

It might raise questions with Revenue if the bill is €1,200.
Click to expand...
The medical insurance aspect is probably purely down to the plan.
Many plans do cover chiropractor services, though usually there are more refunds available for physiotherapist services versus osteopath or physical therapy.

It is a considerable sum, perhaps a second opinion from another practitioner might be wise, or use a physio if that is covered by the plan.
 
I wonder what you have to produce to the tax audit man then when he asks for proof of referal.
 
My tax return was auditted and I had to submit all receipts and was told to provide a letter from the GP referring me for Physiotherapy.

OP : €60 to your GP to get a referral is money well spent to get €240 back
 
I would imagine that plenty of people claim for physio, etc without a referal and are never asked and so have the tax relief wrongly allowed.

I also know any number of people who have never been asked whether they are wrongly deducting non-allowable expenses for their other income, but again, just because people get away with it doesn't mean they won't eventually get caught.
 
Please be extremely careful going to a non-medical person like a chiropractor. My understanding is that chiropractic can be really dangerous. I don't seem to be able to post links here, so if you google "chiropractor dangers", the first link (for me anyway) is an Irish Times article looking at chiropractic. The "Is It Safe" section is pretty chilling, I think.
 
Concrete said:
Please be extremely careful going to a non-medical person like a chiropractor. My understanding is that chiropractic can be really dangerous. I don't seem to be able to post links here, so if you google "chiropractor dangers", the first link (for me anyway) is an Irish Times article looking at chiropractic. The "Is It Safe" section is pretty chilling, I think.
Click to expand...
There may be issues getting a referral from a GP for this reason.

Chiropractor isn't a protected term in Ireland, anyone can use the term with no real qualification and there are some charlatans out there.
In other jurisdictions it is something requiring specific medical training and it is regulated accordingly.

If the chiropractor is based as same locality as GP they may be known to the GP and this may be less of an issue.
If not, check out the therapist is registered with the Chiropractic Association of Ireland or has a real degree in the field from a foreign university.
 
huskerdu said:
My tax return was auditted and I had to submit all receipts and was told to provide a letter from the GP referring me for Physiotherapy.

OP : €60 to your GP to get a referral is money well spent to get €240 back
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip!
 
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