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I have been reading with interest the recent comments people have made
regarding their personal medical flex accounts in relation to offset the
cost of a gluten free diet.
 
I have a very small corporation.  For most of the corporation's life my
husband and I have been the only employees.  In filing a corporate return, a
corporation can categorize and deduct medical expenses as legitimate and
reasonable expense.  The key here is that all employees must be provided the
same benefits.  If we were to hire additional personnel they would have to
be provided the same benefits.  In our corporation, medical insurance
premiums in full, deductible dollars for procedures and drugs, over the
counter meds as advised or ordered by your physician, and special foods for
medically prescribed diets are reimbursed in full.  Within our charter
records, there is a corporate meeting documentation stating our course of
action.  Therefore in reality I have no personal medical expenses; my
medical expenses are paid by the corporation, including my extra added
expense for gluten free food and the below.
 
Since I am a diagnosed celiac by biopsy (another good reason for biopsy
testing) and I have a history of colon cancer (free for 7 years now), my
doctor has provided a letter that I must adhere to a gluten free, dairy free
and anti-cancer diet. This allows my corporation to deduct in full the
difference between what I pay for gluten free food, dairy-free food, and
anti-cancer treatments in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, halved
let's say most of the time as my husband has no serious medical conditions.
Within my medically prescribed anti-cancer diet, I include organic fresh
fruits and vegetables as well, as this is what it takes for me to continue
to be well.  Yes, you have to scrutinize your grocery bill thoroughly and
submit it to your corporation for reimbursement (most of the time through
detail documented petty cash) however it is worth every penny.  Even if the
corporation cannot reimburse you on a timely basis, it is still entered as
an invoice/bill and paid when able as accounts payable.
 
My doctor and I consider the following example of foods as anti-cancer: the
difference between organic and regular eggs, oranges, apples, grapes,
pomegrantes, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, squash, berries, pineapple, on
and on all the foods you've been reading about and consuming to keep you
healthy, fresh cold water fish high in Omega3 once a week, etc.  Of course
vitamins, probiotics and other supplements that I have OK'ed with my doctor
are included.  I drafted the detailed letter of instruction, my doctor
retyped it on his letterhead without any changes.
 
For those of you that already have very small corporations like us this
might be a something to consider.  In you're interested in forming a
corporation just for this purpose, I wouldn't - there is an incredible
amount of corporate record-keeping, quarterly paperwork and taxes, the
corporation is taxed as a separate entity in addition to your personal taxes
and initially unforeseen and cumbersome taxes on the federal and state
levels, not to mention many other reasons why you wouldn't want to create a
corporation.  This advise is meant for cottage industry, consultants,
manufacturer's reps, professional writers and the like that are already
incorporated.  Hope I've been helpful.  Best regards, Dorina
 
 

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