Sen. Toomey Wants to Provide Relief for Middle-Income Families Facing High Medical Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is working to make health care more affordable for people facing expensive medical bills.
Prior to 2010, consumers could deduct the cost of medical expenses that exceeded 7.5 percent of their income, but that threshold was increased to 10 percent of their income. Many individuals facing serious medical conditions and high costs are subject to this burdensome requirement now and starting in 2017 seniors will be subject to the 10 percent hurdle.
Sen. Toomey is introducing the Medical Expense Deduction Act, which would restore the original catastrophic medical expense deduction.
"Today, sick taxpayers can deduct fewer medical expenses than just four years ago," said Sen. Toomey. "Raising this tax on individuals with high medical bills and middle-class families providing long-term care for a dependent disproportionally affects lower and middle income people. As of 2012, 97 percent of deductions claimed were by those making $200,000 or less. My legislation would repeal this tax hike on struggling families and people battling severe illness."
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