[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E94]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HEALTH PREMIUMS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHOULD BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE ITEMS

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                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today, I will reintroduce legislation to 
allow health insurance premiums and unreimbursed prescription drug 
expenses to be tax deductible. Last year's bill number was H.R. 4472.
  Under current law, employers can write off the cost of health care 
coverage purchased for their employees. Why can't individuals also be 
afforded the same opportunity to write off their 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. That doesn't 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 costs and that we need to include 
a place where this deduction could be taken on the short form such as 
the 1040 EZ 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 
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 that may not be available under the current system.
  The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) endorsed my bill in the last 
congress.

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