U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has reintroduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize healthier living through physical activity.
The Connecticut Democrat teamed with Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and U.S. Reps Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) in presenting the Personal Health Investment Today Act, which would allow Americans to use a portion of the money saved in their pre-tax health savings account and flexible spending account toward qualified sports and fitness purchases, such as gym memberships, fitness equipment, and youth sports league fees.
However, qualified expenses do not include private clubs owned and operated by members or clubs with golf, hunting, sailing, or riding facilities. In the case of sports equipment ”“ other than exercise equipment ”“ reimbursement for a single item cannot exceed $250 and those pre-tax dollars cannot be used for general fitness apparel or footwear.
“Joining a local gym or signing your kids up for little league are great ways for families to get healthy and connect with their community, but those fees can be really expensive,” said Murphy. “This bipartisan legislation would allow people to use their flexible spending accounts to cover those expenses. It”™s a smart investment that would help more Americans prioritize their health, lead active lives, and connect with others.”
