The Facts

• The deduction for long-term health care is part of the Medical and Dental expenses line item that is found on Schedule A--Itemized Deductions. Medical and dental expense deductions are limited to the amount of expense that exceeds 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. You may only deduct amounts that were not reimbursed by an insurance policy or Medicare/Medicaid. Deductions are allowed for yourself, your spouse and your qualified dependents.
  
  

Types

• Long-term medical care expenses that are deductible include expenses for the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of an illness. Prescription drugs are also deductible. In the case of long-term medical care, the expenses may include the cost of nurses or a long-term care facility, as long as the expenses were prescribed by a physician. You may also deduct payments for health insurance in the total expense, but you cannot deduct payments for life or disability insurance.
  
  

Time Frame

• All deductions taken must be for expenses paid during the tax filing year between January 1 and December 31. If a payment is mailed on December 31, it is considered an expense for that year.
  
  

Considerations

• Schedule A is a form that allows you to itemize deductions in the event that your itemized deductions are greater than the standard deduction. For 2008, the standard deduction for Single is $5,450, and the standard deduction for Married Filing Jointly is $10,900. Unless the total of your itemized deductions is larger than your standard deduction, do not use the itemized deductions.
  
  

Expert Advice

• You may include in your deduction any expenses for the transportation to and attendance fees of a medical conference related to a chronic illness. You may not deduct lodging or meals. If you drive, you may deduct the actual cost of gas and oil or use the standard mileage rate to calculate the deduction. As with the other expenses, you, your spouse or your eligible dependent must suffer from the illness.