My triathlon costs for the past year and a half (Page 2)

the bear - 2012-02-24 4:44 PM Anyone price coronary bypass surgery lately?

It would be cool if we could deduct some of the costs associated with being in top shape (triathlon).  As mentioned, one bypass surgery would dwarf a lifetime of triathlon costs....

Annual check-ins to verify a person's fitness level (and therefore the deduction) could be added to the already required process many insurance companies have (Health risk appraisel, health qualification forms etc).   So if someone took advantage of a deduction one year, they couldn't continue year after year if they stopped training...

Amortization schedule for bike deduction, meaning must maintain fitness over a four to five year span with deductions pro-rated each year...Races and associated fees could be deducted for the year incurred at a pre-determined ratio....

Ah to dream...

TriMike - 2012-02-26 9:58 AM

the bear - 2012-02-24 4:44 PM Anyone price coronary bypass surgery lately?

It would be cool if we could deduct some of the costs associated with being in top shape (triathlon).  As mentioned, one bypass surgery would dwarf a lifetime of triathlon costs....

Annual check-ins to verify a person's fitness level (and therefore the deduction) could be added to the already required process many insurance companies have (Health risk appraisel, health qualification forms etc).   So if someone took advantage of a deduction one year, they couldn't continue year after year if they stopped training...

Amortization schedule for bike deduction, meaning must maintain fitness over a four to five year span with deductions pro-rated each year...Races and associated fees could be deducted for the year incurred at a pre-determined ratio....

I'd suspect that the push-back against fitness-related pricing would come not from the insurance industry but from the public. And perhaps with good reason. Just as the insurance companies would be happy to charge you more if you're out of shape, I'm sure they'd love to charge you a huge amount more if you happen to have a child who is born with a genetic issue that calls for very expensive care. And they'd also be happy to charge you more if your parents had heart disease, regardless of how fit you yourself are. *Some* people would be happy with a system that gives them credit for doing things that they have control over. Few people would welcome a system that penalizes them for things that they have little control over.

colinphillips - 2012-02-26 10:36 AM

TriMike - 2012-02-26 9:58 AM

the bear - 2012-02-24 4:44 PM Anyone price coronary bypass surgery lately?

It would be cool if we could deduct some of the costs associated with being in top shape (triathlon).  As mentioned, one bypass surgery would dwarf a lifetime of triathlon costs....

Annual check-ins to verify a person's fitness level (and therefore the deduction) could be added to the already required process many insurance companies have (Health risk appraisel, health qualification forms etc).   So if someone took advantage of a deduction one year, they couldn't continue year after year if they stopped training...

Amortization schedule for bike deduction, meaning must maintain fitness over a four to five year span with deductions pro-rated each year...Races and associated fees could be deducted for the year incurred at a pre-determined ratio....

I'd suspect that the push-back against fitness-related pricing would come not from the insurance industry but from the public. And perhaps with good reason. Just as the insurance companies would be happy to charge you more if you're out of shape, I'm sure they'd love to charge you a huge amount more if you happen to have a child who is born with a genetic issue that calls for very expensive care. And they'd also be happy to charge you more if your parents had heart disease, regardless of how fit you yourself are. *Some* people would be happy with a system that gives them credit for doing things that they have control over. Few people would welcome a system that penalizes them for things that they have little control over.

I think you missed my point.  I'm suggesting incentives in the form of tax deductions, not punitive health pricing from the insurance industry.

And besides, punitive pricing is already in place for tobacco use and IMO should be considered for obesity.  I.E., if statistically you'll cost the "system" as a result of your health choices, you should pay more.

However, to be clear, my idea was a way to deduct costs associated with triathlon since the very obvious by-product of triathlon is improved health, incentive vs. punitive...

You're right. I overlooked that you were talking about tax credits rather than insurance costs. My bad. But I stand by the remark that people want to be rewarded for their upsides, but don't want to have to pay for their downsides, whether in taxation or in insurance costs. For example, if tax policy simultaneously rewarded bike commuting while penalizing car commuting, to balance the cost, how well received would that be? It's clearly good policy, but I don't see it flying.

The UK actually has a scheme not so different than that. There are significant benefits associated with buying a bike for commuting (up to £1000). The system seems complicated. It is claimed to be working, but I'm not sure how credible the evidence is for that. 

I'm not saying that in order for one group to benefit (triathletes deducting costs) those that don't share that lifestyle choice get hit with the bill.  For example someone may choose to live a healthy lifestyle yet they don't spend the same amount of $$$ as a triathlete, that doesn't mean they should be making up the difference..

The incentive precedent is already in place with energy efficient appliances.  Those that run out and replace all their appliances aren't given a deduction on the backs of those who don't...The encouragement to those that don't is lower energy bills should they choose to buy energy efficient..

I realize my suggestion has points that could be argued however if our nation wants to get serious about it's obesity problem, finding ways to bring people into a healthy lifestyle AND reward those who already enjoy the fruits of the sport (good health) IMO would be a great idea...

Noone listed the price of their IM Tat.

My company actually offers a discount on what we pay for our health insurance if we meet certain physical work up numbers, like BMI, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Glucose. And it's a decent discount, certainly will pay for several race fees.

TriMike - 2012-02-26 11:18 AM

colinphillips - 2012-02-26 10:36 AM

TriMike - 2012-02-26 9:58 AM

the bear - 2012-02-24 4:44 PM Anyone price coronary bypass surgery lately?

It would be cool if we could deduct some of the costs associated with being in top shape (triathlon).  As mentioned, one bypass surgery would dwarf a lifetime of triathlon costs....

Annual check-ins to verify a person's fitness level (and therefore the deduction) could be added to the already required process many insurance companies have (Health risk appraisel, health qualification forms etc).   So if someone took advantage of a deduction one year, they couldn't continue year after year if they stopped training...

Amortization schedule for bike deduction, meaning must maintain fitness over a four to five year span with deductions pro-rated each year...Races and associated fees could be deducted for the year incurred at a pre-determined ratio....

I'd suspect that the push-back against fitness-related pricing would come not from the insurance industry but from the public. And perhaps with good reason. Just as the insurance companies would be happy to charge you more if you're out of shape, I'm sure they'd love to charge you a huge amount more if you happen to have a child who is born with a genetic issue that calls for very expensive care. And they'd also be happy to charge you more if your parents had heart disease, regardless of how fit you yourself are. *Some* people would be happy with a system that gives them credit for doing things that they have control over. Few people would welcome a system that penalizes them for things that they have little control over.

I think you missed my point.  I'm suggesting incentives in the form of tax deductions, not punitive health pricing from the insurance industry.

And besides, punitive pricing is already in place for tobacco use and IMO should be considered for obesity.  I.E., if statistically you'll cost the "system" as a result of your health choices, you should pay more.

However, to be clear, my idea was a way to deduct costs associated with triathlon since the very obvious by-product of triathlon is improved health, incentive vs. punitive...

Isn't that counter productive.  If you die at a younger age you collect less in Social Security.

^^^^

This

But then again Diving almost led to my divorce. I am still not sure I made the right choice Maybe I should have kept diving hardcore for another year or two.

Other Sports like diving make me kind of chuckle when everyone says how expensive triathlon is.

REV3 Half Iron $200 Entry fee this year Room for 3 nights $278 Spending money $100.

Major Triathlon weekend $578 I could barely get a cheep weekend of diving in for that...

Then some people have to go and have all that expensive underwater camera gear

Oh and I agree with some others I am 70lbs lighter night... shhh ok 65 seeing I still haven't kicked offseason weight.  And my wife now joins me for some runs and other things and she has lost 35lbs and we both get along more now. Long bike ride days are just rough ones to manage with the wife.

2011 Was expensive. The big hitter was the family cross-continent road trip to race IMC. 

$1200 in race fees

$1500 in gas to get to races 

$3000 in hotel stays 

$1500 in random gear (helmets, stems, pumps, shoes, gels, etc.)

$500 in random services (bike tuning, massage, etc.)

TOTAL: ~$7,700