IRS declares obesity a disease

http://www.msnbc.com/news/999076.asp

The section of this story that's interesting (and maybe money-saving) is:

"Changes in federal health-care policy may soon provide wider access to
treatment. Last year the Internal Revenue Service declared obesity a disease
and made expenses related to treatment-exercise programs, bariatric surgery
and commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers-tax-deductible. And
the agency that controls Medicare will soon decide whether to reclassify as
well. If it does, it will be the first step toward allowing millions of
overweight Americans to seek treatment."

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear your
comments on this.

Tonia

That T Woman wrote:

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear your
comments on this.

Way ahead of you.

The IRS does not consider exercise to be treatment for obesity.

Seriously.

You cannot deduct health club memberships in any way, shape or form.

Wendy, a CPA

"That T Woman" wrote in message
...
http://www.msnbc.com/news/999076.asp

The section of this story that's interesting (and maybe money-saving) is:

"Changes in federal health-care policy may soon provide wider access to
treatment. Last year the Internal Revenue Service declared obesity a
disease
and made expenses related to treatment-exercise programs, bariatric
surgery
and commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers-tax-deductible.
And
the agency that controls Medicare will soon decide whether to reclassify
as
well. If it does, it will be the first step toward allowing millions of
overweight Americans to seek treatment."

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym
membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear your
comments on this.

Tonia


We were told by our accountant that the medical portion of my HMR program
that wasn't covered by insurance (all of it) would be tax deductible, but
the food (shakes, etc) would not be, nor my Curves membership and various
and sundry fitness equipment and other expenses.

Jenn

On 4 Dec 2003 21:42:34 -0400, Wendy wrote:

That T Woman wrote:

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear your
comments on this.

Way ahead of you.

The IRS does not consider exercise to be treatment for obesity.

Seriously.

You cannot deduct health club memberships in any way, shape or form.

Wendy, a CPA

My husband -- who is obese and has associated health issues -- has
gotten our doctor to prescribe his gym membership and personal
training (or perhaps more correctly, to direct him to do it). We
deducted the associated costs as a medical expense last year, and our
taxes are prepared by a CPA (who is the one who recommended that DH
talk with our doctor about this). My understanding is that there was
some change in the tax law that permitted this. I did a quick google
search and found the following:

http://www.tax-power.com/Tax%20Power.../TaxPower4.doc

See point 2, in particular. (This deduction is subject to the
limitations associated with other medical expense deductions. But it
also suggests the use of flexible spending accounts, if you have that
available through your work, to pay with pretax dollars.)

I should probably have tried to get the doctor to prescribe it for me
too. This year I think that would be tough, since I'm not
significantly overweight. (I haven't been to the doctor in 4-5 years.
I suppose I should do something about that sometime :-) .)

Chris

I'm just going to win the multi-state lotto and not worry about if the IRS
deducts it or not....LOL

Paul
300/247/175

"That T Woman" wrote in message
...
http://www.msnbc.com/news/999076.asp

The section of this story that's interesting (and maybe money-saving) is:

"Changes in federal health-care policy may soon provide wider access to
treatment. Last year the Internal Revenue Service declared obesity a
disease
and made expenses related to treatment-exercise programs, bariatric
surgery
and commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers-tax-deductible.
And
the agency that controls Medicare will soon decide whether to reclassify
as
well. If it does, it will be the first step toward allowing millions of
overweight Americans to seek treatment."

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym
membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear your
comments on this.

Tonia

Can't your only write off medical expenses that are 7.5% above your gross
adjusted income anyway??

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net


"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
On 4 Dec 2003 21:42:34 -0400, Wendy wrote:

That T Woman wrote:

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our gym
membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find out.
If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to hear
your
comments on this.

Way ahead of you.

The IRS does not consider exercise to be treatment for obesity.

Seriously.

You cannot deduct health club memberships in any way, shape or form.

Wendy, a CPA

My husband -- who is obese and has associated health issues -- has
gotten our doctor to prescribe his gym membership and personal
training (or perhaps more correctly, to direct him to do it). We
deducted the associated costs as a medical expense last year, and our
taxes are prepared by a CPA (who is the one who recommended that DH
talk with our doctor about this). My understanding is that there was
some change in the tax law that permitted this. I did a quick google
search and found the following:

http://www.tax-power.com/Tax%20Power.../TaxPower4.doc

See point 2, in particular. (This deduction is subject to the
limitations associated with other medical expense deductions. But it
also suggests the use of flexible spending accounts, if you have that
available through your work, to pay with pretax dollars.)

I should probably have tried to get the doctor to prescribe it for me
too. This year I think that would be tough, since I'm not
significantly overweight. (I haven't been to the doctor in 4-5 years.
I suppose I should do something about that sometime :-) .)

Chris

On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 08:32:36 -0600, "Perple Gyrl"
wrote:

Can't your only write off medical expenses that are 7.5% above your gross
adjusted income anyway??

Yes, I think that's the number. Unless one has really high medical
expense apart from a gym membership (or an extremely low income, I
guess), a gym membership wouldn't make the cut. However, personal
training 3x/week for a year, like DH does, is a whole different
matter. It's pretty expensive; added to our other medical expenses it
gets us above the cut off.

Chris

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 14:13:34 GMT, (Jayjay) wrote:

On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 08:32:36 -0600, "Perple Gyrl"
wrote:

Can't your only write off medical expenses that are 7.5% above your gross
adjusted income anyway??

Then the question would be that if the doctor prescription thing
works, can you put your gym membership on a flexible spending plan
(cafeteria plan) and get the money pretax through your employer?
Heck, if the caferteria plans now cover OTC meds like aspiren and cold
meds, then it would suffice to say a "prescription for gym membership"
would work.


The article at the link I posted addresses this, and basically says
yes, you can do that.

Chris

I will have to check out my flex spending account to see what it covers.
Unfortunately, I maxed mine out this year AND bought a 3 yr membership to a
healthclub last month! I don't think either will hep me.. Oh well.

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net


"Jayjay" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 08:32:36 -0600, "Perple Gyrl"
wrote:

Can't your only write off medical expenses that are 7.5% above your gross
adjusted income anyway??

Then the question would be that if the doctor prescription thing
works, can you put your gym membership on a flexible spending plan
(cafeteria plan) and get the money pretax through your employer?
Heck, if the caferteria plans now cover OTC meds like aspiren and cold
meds, then it would suffice to say a "prescription for gym membership"
would work.

My gym has a large physical therapy unit, hhhmmmm....

note - this is a current huge concern of mine, because the company is
switching health insurance again this year to a new breed of health
insurance - consumer drivin plan. Whereas for the young and healthy,
its a good low cost plan. But the prescription plan is part of the
whole plan, so if you have any medical condition, ie allergies,
birthcontrol, etc... you pay top dollar for prescription costs and
most of it comes directly out of your own pocket. Its got me in a
big uproar over the high costs .. and yes, those high costs of health
insurance are partially to be blamed on the obese and their medical
conditions (diabeties, heart, etc). Its a real ****er for someone
healthy who wants insurance for those "just in case" emergencies

wendy,
i believe that with a physician's prescription that are allowances.

--
read and post daily, it works!
rosie

"if the only prayer you say in your whole life is 'thank you,'
that would suffice."
................................................m eckhart, 1260-1328
http://www.moveon.org/






"Wendy" wrote in message
...
That T Woman wrote:

My DH is going to do some research and see if we can take our
gym membership
fees off our income taxes. I'll let the group know what we find
out. If
anyone out there is a tax accountant (in the USA), I'll like to
hear your
comments on this.

Way ahead of you.

The IRS does not consider exercise to be treatment for obesity.

Seriously.

You cannot deduct health club memberships in any way, shape or
form.

Wendy, a CPA