The Health and Fitness Association scored a major policy victory this month: physical activity expenses, including gym memberships and youth sports, were written into the House tax package through the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. While the legislation still requires Senate approval, the move signals an important shift in public policy: recognizing exercise as essential to health and worthy of tax treatment on par with prescription medications and other medical expenses.
Here in Canada, the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) has been advocating for a similar policy reform for years—specifically, to make gym memberships and youth physical activity programs eligible under the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC).
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