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Claiming tax relief on blood cancer treatment | CION Cancer Clinics
Yes. Under Section 80DDB, a resident who files under the old tax regime can deduct money spent treating a blood cancer, for themselves or a dependant: up to ₹40,000 a year, or ₹1,00,000 when the patient is 60 years or older. You need a qualified specialist's prescription and your bills. This page explains who qualifies, how to claim, and where to check current rules. At CION Cancer Clinics, our haematology team supports patients and families through treatment, cost questions and life at home.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Basudev PokhrelConsultant Haematologist · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Can you claim tax relief on blood cancer treatment under Section 80DDB?
- How much can you deduct?
- Who can claim, and for whom?
- How do you actually make the claim?
- What do families get wrong about this deduction?
- What other tax relief might apply to a family facing blood cancer?
- Which tax words will you meet, in plain language?
- Common questions about tax relief on blood cancer treatment
The short answer
Can you claim tax relief on blood cancer treatment under Section 80DDB?
Yes, in most cases, if you file under the old tax regime. Section 80DDB lets a resident individual deduct money actually spent treating a cancer, for themselves or a dependant, up to a limit that is higher when the patient is a senior citizen.
Do blood cancers count?
The rules list malignant cancers as one of the diseases that qualify. Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are malignant cancers, so treatment for them is covered. The list also names two blood disorders that are not cancers: haemophilia and thalassaemia.
Who this does not suit
If you have chosen the new tax regime, this deduction is not available to you that year. If your insurer or employer paid the whole bill, there is usually nothing left to claim. Conditions not named in the rules, such as sickle cell disease, may not qualify as written.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you whether the old or new regime leaves you better off. That depends on your whole income and other deductions. A tax preparer can work it out both ways for you.
A new Income-tax Act applies from April 2026 and renumbers many sections. Ask your tax preparer which section now covers this deduction and whether the limits have changed.The limits
How much can you deduct?
You deduct what you actually paid, or the limit, whichever is lower. The limit depends on the age of the patient, not the person paying.
₹40,000
Patient below senior-citizen age
The maximum yearly deduction for treating a patient who is not a senior citizen.
₹1,00,000
Patient who is a senior citizen
The higher yearly limit when the patient is a senior citizen, such as a parent you support.
Limits as stated by the Income Tax Department, checked in 2026. Any amount repaid by insurance or an employer is subtracted first. Tax rules change with each budget, so confirm the current limits before you file. This is general information, not tax advice.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistEligibility
Who can claim, and for whom?
Four conditions have to be true together. If any one is missing, the claim is likely to be refused.
The person claiming
A resident individual or a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) who paid for the treatment. Non-residents cannot use this deduction.
The patient
You, or a dependant who relies on you for support. The patient must not also claim the disability deduction under Section 80U for the same year.
A dependant can be
- Your spouse or children
- Your parents
- Your brothers or sisters
The illness
A disease named in the income tax rules. Blood cancers fall under malignant cancers. Haemophilia and thalassaemia are named separately.
The tax regime
You must file under the old regime for that year. The new regime gives lower rates but removes most deductions, including this one.
Salaried people can often choose the regime again each year. Business owners have fewer switches.Step by step
How do you actually make the claim?
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Get a prescription from a qualified specialist
For a blood cancer this is usually an oncologist or haematologist with a super-specialty degree. It can be from a government or private hospital. It should show the patient's name and age, the disease, and the specialist's name, address, registration number and qualification.
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Keep every bill and receipt
Hospital bills, pharmacy bills for your treatment, and payment proof. Pay by bank transfer, card or cheque where you can, so there is a clear record of who paid.
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Subtract what was repaid
If insurance, Aarogyasri, PM-JAY, CGHS or an employer covered part of the cost, only the amount you paid yourself counts.
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Enter it in your return
The deduction goes in the Chapter VI-A section of your income tax return. Salaried people can also give the prescription to their employer so less tax is cut from salary.
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Keep the papers safely
You do not upload them when filing. Keep them in one folder, because the tax department can ask for them later.
Commonly believed
What do families get wrong about this deduction?
"Only the patient can claim it."
The person who paid can claim it, as long as the patient is themselves or a dependant family member. A son paying for his father's treatment is a common and valid case.
"The prescription has to come from a government hospital."
It no longer has to. A qualified specialist in a private hospital can issue it, provided it carries the details the rules ask for. An ordinary family doctor's note is not enough.
"If insurance paid something, we cannot claim at all."
You can still claim the part you paid yourself. Subtract what insurance or your employer repaid, and claim the rest up to the limit.
"This is the same as the health insurance deduction."
They are separate. Section 80D covers insurance premiums and preventive check-ups. Section 80DDB covers treatment spending on named diseases. Many families can claim both in the same year.
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Beyond 80DDB
What other tax relief might apply to a family facing blood cancer?
Section 80DDB is only one route. Depending on your situation, others may add to it or suit you better.
Health insurance premiums
Section 80D lets you deduct premiums for health insurance on yourself, your family and your parents, within set limits. If you pay a parent's policy and their treatment costs, both can often be claimed.
Disability deductions
If a long illness leaves a lasting disability that is certified by a medical authority, Section 80U may apply to the patient, and Section 80DD to a family member who supports them. These give a fixed deduction rather than one based on bills. The patient cannot use 80U and let the family claim 80DDB for them in the same way, so ask which is better.
When the patient has little income
A deduction only helps someone who pays tax. If the patient earns little, it usually makes more sense for the earning family member who pays the bills to claim.
Your haematologist's team can write the prescription. They cannot advise you on tax. Take the papers to a tax preparer.On the tax form
Which tax words will you meet, in plain language?
- Old and new regime
- Two ways of working out income tax. The old regime allows deductions like this one. The new regime has lower rates and few deductions.
- Dependant
- A family member who relies mainly on you for support, such as a spouse, child, parent, brother or sister.
- Senior citizen
- For this deduction, a patient who has reached senior-citizen age, which the income tax rules set, during the year.
- Chapter VI-A
- The part of the return where deductions such as 80C, 80D and 80DDB are entered.
- Reimbursement
- Money paid back to you by an insurer or employer for a bill you already paid.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about tax relief on blood cancer treatment
Can I claim 80DDB for my mother's leukaemia treatment?
Yes, if she depends on you, you paid for the treatment and you file under the old regime. Because leukaemia is a malignant cancer, it qualifies. If she is a senior citizen, the higher limit applies. You need a specialist's prescription and your payment records.
Do tablets bought from a pharmacy count?
Money spent on the medical treatment of the named disease counts, and that usually includes medicines prescribed for it. Keep the pharmacy bills with the prescription. If you are unsure whether a specific cost counts, ask your tax preparer before you claim it rather than after.
Can CION give me the prescription I need?
You can ask your treating specialist at CION for a prescription with the details the tax rules require. Tell them it is for an 80DDB claim so nothing is missed. The team can provide the medical document but cannot advise on your tax position.
Is Form 10-I still needed?
Form 10-I was the old certificate format. The rules were changed so that a prescription from a qualified specialist now serves this purpose. Some employers still ask for the old form out of habit. Show them the prescription and ask a tax preparer if they insist.
We were treated under Aarogyasri. Can we still claim?
Only for what you paid yourself. If the scheme covered the full treatment, there is nothing to deduct. Travel, stay and other costs outside the treatment are not usually part of this deduction. Keep bills for anything you did pay, and let a tax preparer decide what qualifies.
Can two brothers split the claim for their father?
Each person can claim only what they actually paid, and the limit applies to the treatment of that patient. Keep clear payment records showing who paid which bill. Splitting it without proof is the kind of claim that draws questions from the tax department.
I am self-employed. Does this work for me too?
Yes. The deduction is for resident individuals and HUFs, not only salaried people. You claim it when you file your return under the old regime. Switching between regimes is harder for business income, so plan the choice with your tax preparer.
What if my claim is questioned later?
Respond with the prescription, the bills, proof of payment and any insurance settlement letters. This is why keeping one folder for each tax year matters. If the notice is hard to follow, a chartered accountant or tax preparer can reply on your behalf.
Your Haematologist
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Dr. Basudev Pokhrel reviews blood counts, transfusion needs and blood disorders, and works with the CION tumour board on blood cancers.
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Sources
- Income Tax Department, Government of India — Income Tax e-Filing portal: deductions for individuals
- Income Tax Department, Government of India — Income Tax Department
- Cancer.Net (ASCO) — Financial considerations
- National Cancer Institute — Managing costs and medical information
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Income Loss for Daily-Wage and Self-Employed PatientsProtecting income when treatment stops your workDisability Certification for Blood DisordersThe certificate behind the 80U and 80DD deductionsManaging Money Across Years of TreatmentPlanning finances when treatment runs for yearsWork, Money and Rights With a Blood CancerEvery guide in this section
Talk to us
Need a prescription for your 80DDB claim?
Tell us who is being treated and what you need. Our team can help with the medical paperwork; your tax preparer handles the return. One helpline serves every CION centre.