<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/an-osteopath-works-with-a-patient-right-a-stack-of-canadian-money.jpg?id=59698724&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-taxes-childcare-credit" target="_blank">Quebec's 2025-2026 budget</a> is shaking things up when it comes to medical expense <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/tax-credits" target="_blank">tax credits</a> — and it's not good news for fans of alternative medicine. </p><p>As of 2026, tax credits for services provided by osteopaths, homeopaths, naturopaths, and phytotherapists will no longer be eligible, according to the government's new budget unveiled on March 25. The goal of this change? To better regulate medical expenses that qualify for tax relief and to align Quebec's policies more closely with the federal tax credit system.</p><p>Currently, individuals who incur significant medical expenses can claim a refundable or non-refundable medical expense tax credit from the government. But from 2026 onwards, only services offered by health professionals who are part of a recognized professional order in Quebec will qualify for medical expense tax credits. This includes practitioners from the Order of Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Dietitians-Nutritionists, Physiotherapists, and Occupational Therapists.</p><p>Care provided by alternative medicine practitioners outside of those realms will no longer be reimbursed. The Quebec government describes these practices as part of "alternative medicine", which, according to the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), involves "therapeutic approaches that are not scientifically proven, unlike traditional medicine."</p><p>There may be hope for osteopathy, though. The government has acknowledged that osteopaths are currently working towards official recognition following a favourable recommendation from the Office des professions du Québec. Once an order is established, medical expenses related to osteopathy will once again be eligible for tax credits. For now, though, folks looking to claim tax credits for alternative medicine better do so before 2026. </p><p> <a href="https://www.finances.gouv.qc.ca/Budget_and_update/budget/index.asp" target="_blank">Finance Minister Eric Girard</a> announced the province's new budget in a speech on Tuesday. It includes a historic deficit of $13.6 billion and numerous cutbacks, including some to the <a href="https://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/citizens/tax-credits/tax-credit-for-childcare-expenses/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">childcare tax credit</a>.</p><p>To browse the 2025-2026 Quebec budget, <a href="https://www.finances.gouv.qc.ca/Budget_et_mise_a_jour/budget/documents/Budget2526_PlanBudgetaire.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a> .</p>
