A. Any individual sixty-five years of age or older may claim an additional exemption from income includable, except for this exemption, in net income in an amount equal to three thousand dollars ($3,000) for medical care expenses paid by the individual for that individual or for the individual’s spouse or dependent during the taxable year if those medical care expenses exceed twenty-eight thousand dollars ($28,000) and if the medical care expenses are not reimbursed or compensated for by insurance or otherwise.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

B. As used in this section:

(1)     “dependent” means “dependent” as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2)     “health care facility” means a hospital, outpatient facility, diagnostic and treatment center, rehabilitation center, freestanding hospice or other similar facility at which medical care is provided;

(3)     “medical care” means the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body;

(4)     “medical care expenses” means amounts paid for:

(a) the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body if provided by a physician or in a health care facility;

(b) prescribed drugs or insulin;

(c) qualified long-term care services as defined in Section 7702B(c) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(d) insurance covering medical care, including amounts paid as premiums under Part B of Title 18 of the Social Security Act or for a qualified long-term care insurance contract defined in Section 7702B(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, if the insurance or other amount is paid from income included in the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the taxable year;

(e) specialized treatment or the use of special therapeutic devices if the treatment or device is prescribed by a physician and the patient can show that the expense was incurred primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness; and

(f) care in an institution other than a hospital, such as a sanitarium or rest home, if the principal reason for the presence of the person in the institution is to receive the medical care available; provided that if the meals and lodging are furnished as a necessary part of such care, the cost of the meals and lodging are “medical care expenses”;

(5)     “physician” means a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractic physician or psychologist licensed or certified to practice in New Mexico; and

(6)     “prescribed drug” means a drug or biological that requires a prescription of a physician for its use by an individual.