[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HEALTH PREMIUMS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHOULD BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE ITEMS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks).
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today I plan to introduce a bill to allow 
health insurance premiums and unreimbursed prescription drug expense to 
be tax deductible. Under current law, employers can write off the cost 
of health care coverage purchased for their employees. Why cannot 
individuals also be allowed the same opportunity to write off premiums 
and unreimbursed prescription drug expenses?
  The current Tax Code sets the threshold at 7.5 percent of adjusted 
gross income before an individual can write off their medical expenses. 
This does not seem right to me. Currently in order to claim health care 
expenses, an individual must file an itemized tax return.
  I believe that all taxpayers should be allowed to deduct these out-
of-pocket expenses, and we need to include a place where this deduction 
could be taken on the short form, such as a 1040EZ and 1040A. My bill 
also applies to the self-employed, because individuals who are self-
employed will not be eligible for a 100 percent write-off until the 
year 2003.
  This type of relief is long overdue. Allowing individuals to write 
off certain costly health care expenses they may incur would be a 
tremendous benefit to them.
  The National Taxpayers Union supports my bill. I urge my colleagues 
to cosponsor my bill.

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