IRS Tax Topic 502 – Medical and Dental Expenses, Overview of which medical and dental expenses you can deduct and whose expenses you can deduct (which includes your own and those you paid for your dependents). Note the explanation that, “You can also deduct medical expenses you paid for someone who would have qualified as your dependent except that the person didn’t meet the gross income or joint return test.” In other words, if you provided more than 50% of the support for your parent but you were not able to claim your parent as a dependent on your tax return because his or her income was above the dependent limit, you may still be able to deduct the medical and dental expenses you paid for your parent.
