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255 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 5: Financial eligibility Unallowable medical expenses Some medical expenses are not allowed when ODHS|OHA is reviewing an individual’s medical deductions. Examples of unallowable medical expenses include, but are not limited to: • Expenses for items that can be purchased with SNAP benefits (e.g., special diets, nutritional drinks or organic food) (This is true even if the medical practitioner is prescribing the special food items for the individual.) • Expenses related to medical marijuana or growing medical marijuana • Expenses for gym memberships for general health purposes • Expenses that are past due, defaulted or carried over from a previous billing period • Medical expenses paid by credit card (Medical expenses paid by credit card are considered to be paid in full at the time the payment is made. The subsequent ongoing credit card payments are not allowable as a medical deduction.) • Any medical expenses of other filing group members who do not meet the SNAP definition of elderly or individual with disabilities. Verifying medical deductions for elderly/individuals with disabilities Medical expenses must be verified. Verification of medical deductions can come in many forms. Verification could include a call to a provider’s office to validate such things as payment plans and payment status, bill amounts or frequency of visits to help determine anticipated ongoing copays. Other types of verification may include, but are not limited to, receipts for over-the-counter medications, receipts for supplies showing the purchase and purchase amount, print-outs from pharmacies showing monthly medications, and the number of months for which the prescription was supplied. Verification of medical expenses should include the specific cost, the frequency of use and proof the services are under direction of a licensed medication practitioner. Verification could include a prescription, note or collateral contact. When medical expenses are reported but not verified, it is important to let the individual know if they provide verification, medical expenses may be used in determining their SNAP allotment. If they do not provide verification, SNAP eligibility will be determined without allowing the medical expenses. See Medical Expenses EG. Monthly expenses of $35 or less will result in no medical deduction, so the applicant’s statement is an acceptable form of verification. Monthly expenses of at least $35.01 but not over $205 will result in the standard medical deduction, so at least $35.01 per month in expenses must still be verified. Monthly expenses over $205 must be fully verified to allow the actual expenses. • If the applicant reports expenses over $205 but submits verification of at least $35.01 but not over $205, the amount verified that will result in the standard medical deduction will be used instead of actual expenses.