When I met with our new CPA for the first time, I brought him everything I could think he would need. In 2008 my family and I lived in two states and between me and my husband we had five jobs.

As we sat down to talk taxes, he asked the obvious, normal questions. And then the biggie: he wanted to know if I kept receipts or records from doctor's office co-pays or any other medical treatment. No, of course not, because I had no need to. Well, in Arizona, he said, you can write off your medical expenses, right down to your office co-pays.

Well, hot damn, I thought! I have tons of medical expenses!

"Co-pays, really?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Prescriptions?"

"Yes."

"Ooo! Ooo! What about medical equipment like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors?"

"Yes." I think he was exasperated!

I was able to dig up bank records for the amount I paid for my Dexcom and called Medtronic for a duplicate receipt for my pump.

And now, I've become almost obsessive about keeping every medical receipt for me and the kids since I found this information out. Each debit card receipt goes in a pile with a brief description of what it was for. I've kept anything even remotely related to medical expenses, including the receipt for my new medical ID jewelry.

Today when I put another receipt with the pile I realized how thick it had gotten. And this is only April! And I've only been hanging on to this stuff since around February.

So I tallied it all up tonight. And just for me so far this year (including the $500 deductible for 2008 that I paid in 2009) I have paid nearly $650 for pump supplies, prescriptions and doctor's visits. And that doesn't include the amounts I didn't keep track of. And doesn't count the amount I have yet to pay.

That's a staggering amount. And to top it off, I'll have my 2009 deductible to pay, as well. I can't imagine what it would be without insurance. I'd be bankrupt or unable to afford the best care for myself or both. I'd certainly be making different health-care choices.