Today, this idea is one step closer to becoming a reality because this afternoon this bill—The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act—was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a larger HSA bill package (H.R. 6199) by a vote of 277 to 142.
The PHIT provision that passed would allow Americans to use tax-free accounts like HSAs and FSAs to pay for qualified fitness expenses, including health club memberships, sports safety equipment, and youth sports fees. Under the current version of the bill, individuals could use up to $500 to cover these expenses and families could use up to $1,000.
“We knew that there would be increased opportunities to advance this legislation in the 115th Congress and we are thrilled to celebrate this significant victory,” said Helen Durkin, IHRSA's executive vice president of public policy. “While our work on PHIT is not finished, we’d like to take today to thank every individual and organization that has supported healthy lifestyles by speaking up in favor of the benefits that PHIT would provide to our citizens and our nation. Your passion for and commitment to helping others lead active, healthy lives has brought us to this historic moment.”
