By: Joann Bally CSCS
Any of you who have been following the U.S. elections know that one of the major issues is health care, which is really health insurance, which is really illness insurance. That is, it is getting help with your medical bills so you won’t go broke if you get sick. (I realize some of you in other countries have more efficient health care systems than we do.) Health insurance of this sort is very important, and everybody should have it. But how often do you hear someone asking the politicians what is their program for keeping us healthy in the first place?
Here are a few items that deserve attention:
Food safety
The “war on drugs” (remember that?)
Pollution, of air, water, soil
How about subsidizing production of healthy food, like fruit and vegetables, at least somewhere near the subsidies to the meat and dairy industries, so the salad doesn’t have to cost more than the burger?
Can we make sure all neighborhoods have access to safe places to walk and play and indoor exercise facilities? Can we encourage more walking and biking paths?
Would our politician be interested in using the tax code for incentives for healthy living?
Right now, you can deduct some of your medical expenses if they reach 7-1/2% of your AGI. (Be sure to consult with your tax preparer or the IRS before taking any medical deductions.) You can deduct the cost of stop smoking programs, but you can only deduct cost of weight loss programs if your doctor prescribes them for a given disease (obesity counts). For instance, if your doctor uses BMI of 30 as the threshold for obesity, and you find you have crept up to 28 and want to stop gaining, you cannot deduct a weight loss program. The tax code will not favor you until you get fatter. You cannot deduct health club dues. You cannot deduct swimming or similar lessons, even if your doctor recommends them to improve your general health. Perhaps even a small deduction for health maintenance activities would encourage people to improve their lifestyle, not only to save a few bucks, but because it would show the government is serious about health promotion, not just treating illness.
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