parent's medical

[joanmcq]

Can a taxpayer deduct a parent's medical expenses? The parent was a dependent until mid 2006, when medicare took over because she went into a nursing home. TP is still paying for everything medicare doesn't cover.

[jainen]

>>medicare took over because she went into a nursing home<<

Medicare typically doesn't cover more than 21 days in a nursing home, and also implies the patient has her own income. Perhaps the client means Medicaid, or is otherwise not giving you the full story.

Anyway, medical expenses can be deducted for a relative who would be a dependent except for the earnings test. Dependency is determined annually, so the mother apparently fails the support test instead.

[joanmcq]

Probably is Medicaid; I was typing very late last night on a return that is a complicated, well not mess, but not what I wanted to be dealing with late night. the extensions are coming back to bite (with a vengeance and I really really need a vacation)