Medical Dependents

• Posted on April 24, 2008
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Medical expenses paid for dependents may be deducted. To claim these expenses, the person must have been a dependent either at the time the medical services were provided or at the time the expenses were paid. The qualifications for a medical dependent are less stringent than those for a regular dependent.

A person generally qualifies as a dependent for purposes of the medical expense deduction if:

1. That person lived with the taxpayer for the entire year as a member of the household or is related,

2. That person was a U.S. citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico for some part of the calendar year in which the tax year began, and

3. The taxpayer provided over half of that person's total support for the calendar year. Medical expenses of any person who is a dependent may be included, even if an exemption for him or her cannot be claimed on the return.

Medical Expenses Under a Multiple Support Agreement - Under the provisions of a multiple support agreement, only the one who is considered to have provided more than half of a person's support under such an agreement can deduct medical expenses paid, but the medical directly paid by that individual. Any medical expenses paid by others who joined in the agreement cannot be included as medical expenses by anyone.