Physical activity is a great way to manage stress and feel great doing so, but we know budgeting for fitness club memberships, health club dues, or your kid’s sports leagues can seem like too much. Wouldn’t it be great if you could save 20 to 30 percent on these costs using pre-tax dollars from your Flexible Spending or Health Saving Accounts to cover these costs? We do too! That’s why we’re asking you join Cornerstone Clubs in supporting the PHIT Act!

Legislation currently before Congress would make exercise more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act recognizes the value that daily exercise provides for the health of the American people and the stability of our economy.

Benefits of the PHIT Act

Here are four reasons why you should consider supporting PHIT:

1. 

   If passed, PHIT would allow individuals to pay for fitness expenses, such as fitness club membership or youth sports league fees, using their pre-tax Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA). By expanding the legal definition of a medical expense to one that includes physical activity, a leading preventative health measure, you can budget for fitness expenses the same way you pay for prescriptions and co-pays.

2. You could save 20 to 30 percent on fitness expenses, such as club dues, under PHIT.
3. PHIT enjoys broad bipartisan support in Congress, as judging by the number of legislators that have cosponsored the bill.
4. PHIT would incentivize others to participate in fitness, which is critical because $117 billion in annual health care costs are associated with inadequate physical activity, including costs to publically funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Physical inactivity is responsible for one in ten deaths worldwide, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 80 percent of American adults do not meet the recommended amount of weekly physical activity.

These statistics cannot be disputed, but they can be addressed through public policy.

What you can do

Now is the time to push PHIT over the finish line. Members of Congress are expected to consider omnibus spending legislation that could serve as vehicle for the PHIT provision. Ask your members of Congress to include PHIT in any omnibus spending bill.  

Send a letter to your congressman – we make it easy!

Cornerstone can help with lifelong fitness

Cornerstone is committed to making Bucks County a healthier place to live, and that includes teaching adults as well as our next generation how to make healthy choices and live an active lifestyle.

Check out our offerings: 300 Group Exercise classes per week; personal training; complimentary wellness coaching; holistic health coaching; partnerships with Doylestown Health for cancer fitness and cardiac rehabilitation; and much more.

Our CornerKids programs merge our love of fitness with our passion for the community, offering a variety of activities, services and programs to show your family members what it means to be healthy. We believe that teaching children to make healthy, smart choices when they are young will pave the way for a healthy and happy adulthood.