Financial Incentive To Be More Physically Active
H.R. 2105, The Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2009
Washington is taking a positive step toward reinforcing the importance of physical activity on the health and well-being of Americans. On April 27, 2009 H.R. 2105 was referred to the House committee. If passed, the bill would amend the Internal Revenue Tax Code of 1986 and allow pre-tax medical accounts, such as medical spending accounts (MSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs), to be used for qualified fitness memberships, physical exercise programs, and exercise equipment.
The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) act would allow taxpayers to place an annual sum of up to $1000 for individuals and $2000 for families in existing pre-tax medical accounts. The intention is that lower activity costs will promote more active lifestyle and improve the health of Americans.
Although I am a big proponent of disease prevention and physical activity, I wonder if this financial incentive is enough to motivate people to adopt a more active lifestyle. How many pieces of home exercise equipment are used as clothing hangers or stored in the garage or the guest room/den/crafts room? How many people have gym memberships but only use them in January or May? How many people have access to corporate wellness facilitates, however never seem to find the time to participate? And here is the big question, what about the people who don’t have or cannot afford health insurance or medical savings plans. How do they gain access to affordable resources for improved health through physical activity? As health and fitness professionals we understand the complexity of the issues surrounding making physical activity a priority, and I wonder if this bill is really addressing the issues surrounding the American people’s motivation to be physical active. My purpose here is not to solve the problem, but to ask questions and start the discussion.
To read more about this bill check out http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2105
As a life coach and counselor, my experience is that people may make temporary changes based on an incentive, but a small percentage of them will make it the life long behavioral change that is necessary to really reap the benefits of health and longevity.
That being said, the federal awareness brought about by the act is a step, albeit a tiny one, in the right direction.
The bigger question(s) are the ones which Karen identifies as motivation and access. We all know that if people like Oprah, Kristie Allie and reality show contestants that have gyms, personal chefs, nutritionists, and trainers can still have fitness and weight challenges, how does the average person who doesn't have those supports in place get, and STAY healthy. - What people need is the "HOW" .
As a life and wellness coach, the answer to that is addressing the internal factors, emotions, thoughts AND the external behaviors and coming up with plans, programs and services that meet a wide range of those factors. People who are out of shape and overweight KNOW it- they've most likely tried a lot of different things and have either failed, given up or yo-yo dieted.
If the federal act really wanted people to "shape up" and be healthy-
They'd want to put together & support some resources, coaches and programs that busy people have access to and that address the underlying issue of psychological behavior change that make the behavior change possible and long term.
Posted by: Paige Johnson | July 24, 2009 at 09:57 AM