Exercise Your Rights Action Center


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Federal Issues


The Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act
Under current law, employers and employees may be discouraged from offering or using a health benefit of membership to a health club. That's because while employees are not taxed for the benefit of using an in-house workout facility, they are forced to report the benefit of a membership to an off-site fitness facility as additional income. This forces employers to deal with more IRS paperwork and increases employees' taxes for using their benefits.

The goal of WHIP is to create a benefits system that offers the same benefit to employees who go to a fitness club as to those that work out at their office gym. WHIP recognizes the important role fitness facilities play and will help increase memberships by eliminating tax and paperwork burdens.

The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Bill
The PHIT Initiative will make health club memberships and other fitness expenses even more affordable. Club members will be able to use flexible spending or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to pay for their memberships and portions of the costs of fitness equipment the same way they currently use the accounts to pay for prescription medications and doctor visits.

PHIT will significantly reduce physical fitness costs for the American public, giving them a greater incentive to join a fitness facility or purchase exercise equipment. This will help individual fitness facilities by making fitness facility memberships even more affordable.

 

State Issues

IHRSA monitors legislation in all fifty states to protect and promote the health club industry. Learn what is happening in your state and access valuable information your state. Learn more about your state.