Question about medical expense deductions

[pska]

I have incurred significant medical bills in 2013.  I have set up a payment plan to pay a majority of the bills, and have made the scheduled payments for the past 3 months.  I will still be paying them for the next year.  When I itemize my expenses, can I list the amount billed that I have not yet paid, but am scheduled to pay next year (the total amount billed this year)?  Or, can I only deduct what I have actually paid this year.  If I can only deduct the amount I have paid this year, will I be able to deduct the rest that is paid next year, even though the expenses were incurred in 2013?

[pska]

My gross taxable income this year was $87,428.  I am filing as single, no dependents.  My medical expenses out of pocket were $6,000.  Will this be enough to get a deduction for my medical expenses?

[SweetieJean]

Only the amount in excess of 10% (7.5% if age 65+) of AGI qualifies, and your total itemizeds must be more than the Standard deduction.)  So probably not.

[bine22 · Accepted solution]

you can only deduct the amount you actually paid in 2013 (which would include payments made by credit card). Anything you pay in 2014 you can deduct on your return for 2014

[bisort]

Is there an out of pocket minimum for prescription medication that must be met in order to claim the deduction?

[bine22]

only medical deductions in excess of 10% of your AGI will actually be used as a deduction. If all your itemized deductions are less than the standard deduction, Turbotax will give you the standard deduction.