Bill to allow spending HSA $ on Gym Memberships

[wawa]

among other things such as youth sports fees and workout videos.  Basically it defines physical activity as preventative care. 

It's been around for a while, but was recently (re?) introduced in the senate. 

www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2218/text

has anybody else read anything about this?  Seems logical to me. 

[2curlydogs]

I like this. A lot. For purely selfish reasons.

[wambam]

I would love to use pre-tax money on my gym membership. My H's insurance gets us big box gym memberships for free, but that's not very useful to me, personally.

[wawa]

I am wondering about the paperwork aspect of this.  we'd need prescriptions for OTC meds, but not for running shoes?  That seems odd.

I'm also unsure how the actual reimbursement for this would work. 

Like this definition:
the case of amounts paid for apparel or footwear, if such apparel or footwear is of a type that is necessary for, and is not used for any purpose other than, a specific physical activity, and

Do my running shoes count?  Because certainly nothing is stopping me from wearing those suckers to sit on the couch.  But the idea that they might not count is more than a  little annoying. 

[illgetthere]

Would FSA money also be eligible if it covers HSAs? I don't have a high deductible plan

[wawa]

Dec 11, 2015 15:57:21 GMT -5 illgetthere said:

Would FSA money also be eligible if it covers HSAs? I don't have a high deductible plan

I think so.  It basically just changes the definition of medical care to include physical activity.  So anywhere where the current IRS definition of "moneies spent toward medical care" is relevant would be affected by this. 

I think.

[illgetthere]

Dec 11, 2015 15:56:17 GMT -5 wawa said:

I am wondering about the paperwork aspect of this.  we'd need prescriptions for OTC meds, but not for running shoes?  That seems odd.

I'm also unsure how the actual reimbursement for this would work. 

Like this definition:
the case of amounts paid for apparel or footwear, if such apparel or footwear is of a type that is necessary for, and is not used for any purpose other than, a specific physical activity, and

Do my running shoes count?  Because certainly nothing is stopping me from wearing those suckers to sit on the couch.  But the idea that they might not count is more than a  little annoying. 

I interpret it more as those shoes that cyclists wear or cleats and the like. There are plenty of people wearing $150 running or basketball shoes that spend zero time using them for the sport.

[wawa]

Dec 11, 2015 16:00:18 GMT -5 illgetthere said:

Dec 11, 2015 15:56:17 GMT -5 wawa said:

I am wondering about the paperwork aspect of this.  we'd need prescriptions for OTC meds, but not for running shoes?  That seems odd.

I'm also unsure how the actual reimbursement for this would work. 

Like this definition:
the case of amounts paid for apparel or footwear, if such apparel or footwear is of a type that is necessary for, and is not used for any purpose other than, a specific physical activity, and

Do my running shoes count?  Because certainly nothing is stopping me from wearing those suckers to sit on the couch.  But the idea that they might not count is more than a  little annoying. 

I interpret it more as those shoes that cyclists wear or cleats and the like. There are plenty of people wearing $150 running or basketball shoes that spend zero time using them for the sport.

Yeah, see...annoying. Because these are shoes I MUST wear in order to engage in my physical activity of choice, and they sure as shit cost more than my normal casual shoes, but because other assholes decide to wear those things while being lumps, they don't count.

What if I submit a copy of my mapmyrun log for the year along with my shoe receipt?  (kidding, but not really)