<p>Two of our children have had their wisdom teeth removed this year. When the CSS Profile asks about our medical expenses can we include the amount we paid for this (what the insurance didn't cover) or is it only for strictly medical, not dental procedures?</p>
<p>You can include the balance of the removal of your kiddos’ wisdom teeth.</p>
<p>Include anything the IRS allows as a medical expense, net of any insurance reimbursements – medical, dental, vision, hearing aids, braces, medical mileage, health (med, dent, eye) insurance premiums, …full list is in IRS Publication 502, online at:
[Publication</a> 502 (2009), Medical and Dental Expenses](<a href=“Publication 502 (2022), Medical and Dental Expenses | Internal Revenue Service”>Publication 502 (2022), Medical and Dental Expenses | Internal Revenue Service)</p>
<p>At what amounts do you think it makes a difference for aid? </p>
<p>I mean…schools do expect that families incur a certain % of medical costs each year as “normal”. </p>
<p>What might that “normal” amount be? 5% of gross income? more? less?</p>
<p>I don’t know what the Profile uses as a medical allowance. FAFSA medical allowance is 11% of the IPA (see table A3 on this link: <a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1011AVGCh3.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1011AVGCh3.pdf</a>). If the total medical expenses are < the medical allowance, no adjustments may be made. Detailed documentation of all expenses is required. </p>
<p>How the amount over the medical allowance is treated varies. It doesn’t necessarily result in any number that increases your aid eligibility. It is often used in increasing the COA so that the student can borrow more. Sometimes it is used to reduce available income, which can decrease the EFC … but that doesn’t always make any difference aid-wise.</p>
<p>I always figure Profile schools are looking at the overall situation. I figure it doesn’t hurt to put numbers down … it might generate a sympathetic response.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great info!!</p>