Four lawmakers recently sent a letter to Senate leadership seeking an extension of the reduced threshold for the medical expense deduction. Many senior living residents benefit from the provision.

Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Martha McSally (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) signed the correspondence. The provision continues to let people with medical expenses greater than 7.5% of their adjusted gross income deduct the expenses when filing taxes. The threshold will jump to 10% unless it is extended.

The letter asserts that the lower threshold would benefit 3.6 million taxpayers, including 1.4 million people who are aged 65 years or more. The letter also states that more than two-thirds of those taxpayers are in the middle 60% of the income distribution.

“This issue reflects strong bipartisan and bicameral consensus. None of us wants to see an increase in the tax burden for those with high medical expenses,” the senators said. “This extension is low-cost but has an incredible high impact.”

The American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living, American Seniors Housing Association, Argentum and LeadingAge are among many organizations backing the extension.

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