Medical Expense Calculator Canada 2025
Estimate your medical expense tax credit, find eligible expenses, and calculate the Refundable Medical Expense Supplement (RMES) — up to ~$1,500 cash back for low-income workers with high medical costs.
Estimates based on 2025 federal and provincial rates. Individual circumstances vary. Not financial or tax advice.
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How to Use This Calculator
Tab "Deduction Estimate"
Enter your total medical expenses, net income, and province. The calculator computes the 3% threshold, your deductible amount, and the federal and provincial tax credits. Under "More options," choose whether you're claiming for yourself only, self + spouse, or the whole family. The lower-income spouse should generally claim to minimize the threshold.
Tab "Eligible Expenses"
Use the interactive checklist to enter dollar amounts for each expense category: prescriptions, dental, vision, physiotherapy, mental health, medical devices, travel for treatment, private insurance premiums, and nursing home care. The calculator totals your eligible expenses and shows which common items are NOT eligible (cosmetic surgery, OTC without prescription, gym, vitamins).
Tab "METC Supplement"
Enter your employment income, net income, and medical expenses. The Refundable Medical Expense Supplement (RMES, line 45200) provides up to ~$1,500 in cash back for working low-income individuals with high medical costs. You need at least $4,000 in employment income to qualify. The supplement phases out above ~$30,000 net income.
The Formulas
Threshold = lesser of (3% × net income) or $2,759
Deductible amount:
Deduction = total eligible expenses − threshold
Federal tax credit:
Federal credit = deduction × 15%
Provincial tax credit:
Provincial credit = deduction × provincial rate
(ON 5.05%, BC 5.06%, AB 10%, SK 10.5%, MB 10.8%, QC 15%, NB 9.4%, NS 8.79%, PE 9.65%, NL 8.7%)
Total tax saving:
Total = federal credit + provincial credit
Refundable Medical Expense Supplement (RMES):
RMES = min($1,500, 25% × deduction) − 5% × (net income − $30,000)
Requires employment income ≥ $4,000
The medical expense tax credit is non-refundable — it reduces tax owing but cannot generate a refund on its own. The RMES, however, is fully refundable and can result in a cash payment even if you owe no tax.
Example
The Nguyen Family — Ontario, $8,000 medical expenses, $70,000 income
The Nguyens had $8,000 in eligible medical expenses in 2025: $2,500 dental, $1,800 insurance premiums, $1,200 prescriptions, $1,500 physiotherapy, and $1,000 glasses/vision care.
By claiming all family expenses — including the often-missed insurance premiums — the Nguyens save $1,183 on their taxes. If they had scheduled a $2,000 procedure to fall within the same 12-month period, the saving would increase to $1,583.