My wife spent considerable time in the hospital. Can I deduct my mileage and lodging to visit her?

Unfortunately, the tax law limits a medical expense itemized deduction for travel costs to the patient in most cases. The only exceptions:

• Travel to accompany a patient who is unable to travel on his/her own (e.g., a parent’s fare needed to accompany a child who requires medical care)
• Travel ordered by a physician to help the patient (e.g., a doctor ordered a wife to provide nursing care for an ailing husband in a distant city)