Bill > HR2820

This bill, titled the Health Equity Act of 2013, aims to provide greater equity in medical costs by making a deduction for health insurance costs for self-employed individuals permanent, meaning it will continue to apply to tax years after December 31, 2012. It also creates a new deduction for individuals who pay for "qualified health insurance," which is defined as insurance that constitutes medical care, with some exceptions for benefits that are primarily "excepted benefits" (like certain dental or vision plans) but allowing vision and dental benefits to be included. This new deduction is allowed in computing adjusted gross income, meaning it reduces taxable income directly, and it cannot be used in conjunction with other medical deductions or credits, nor can it be used for self-employment tax calculations. Furthermore, the bill treats expenses for fitness programs, athletic clubs, fitness equipment, and weight loss programs as medical care, allowing them to be deducted as medical expenses up to a limit of $1,200 per year, and also allows reimbursements for these types of expenses through flexible spending arrangements and health reimbursement arrangements, also capped at $1,200 annually.