Q & A Certs: Clarification

Question: I have a resident who receives Social Security and has Medicare deducted from her check. She also works and has Medicare taken out of her paycheck. Does she get both deductions as medical expense? Sue in Texas

Answer:“Medicare” can include several things these days, including basic coverage, supplements and Part D prescription drug coverage.  Any medical insurance, Medicare or otherwise, is a medical expense when it’s paid out of pocket by the household, and the household is eligible for medical deductions (head/spouse/co-head 62+ or handicapped/disabled). All Medicare deductions are medical expenses.  All deductions for Medicare premiums are allowable medical expenses.  Paycheck deductions for Medicare tax are not allowable medical expenses.

We apologize for the confusion… our Q&As are taken from answers to client questions, and sometimes do not include the proper context, as happened in this case.