Obama Administration open to taxing health benefits

Administration open to taxing health benefits

www.msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is signaling to Congress that the president could support taxing some employee health benefits, as several influential lawmakers and many economists favor, to help pay for overhauling the health care system.

The proposal is politically problematic for President Obama, however, since it is similar to one he denounced in the presidential campaign as “the largest middle-class tax increase in history.” Most Americans with insurance get it from their employers, and taxing workers for the benefit is opposed by union leaders and some businesses.

(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit: title to same as source]
Headline: Please use the original story headline from your source.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by 12m8keall2c]

[edit on 15-3-2009 by USamf]

Health care is already too high, but tax it now? My mother pays just over $1000 a month for health insurance because she is a diabetic, If she loses her job, no more health care. I thought he was supposed to "Relieve the health care pressure" from American Society? What are you're thoughts on this? I know I am already counting pennies and the savings is wiped, I don't know if I can afford another tax.

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I can hardly afford what I pay for myself right now. My child is without.

Yeah, sure, not surprising, another Obamanation, tax something else, more and more taxes...thought we were going to get tax breaks. Oh wait, I forgot, we have to pay for the spendulous package.

This is another insidious attempt to make the current medical plans untenable to usher in Universal Healthcare.

Watch out for the next legislation against buying drugs from other countries. Searches for pills as you cross back into the US from Canada and Mexico.

All they are doing is wanting to initiate half of McCain's healthcare plan. He also wanted to stop the tax benefits for employer based health insurance. Why? Well because even when the economy was rolling at its highest levels in history, 4 in 10 Americans switched jobs every year.

Why does it make sense that your health care is provided by your employer? I mean why should you have to switch insurance only because you switch jobs? Why isn't car insurance provided by employers? Because it is rediculously stupid.

This will actually encourage people to buy insurance that isn't attached to an employer and give you more freedom to switch jobs and move around the country. You should be able to choose your insurer because you like them, not because they are forced upon you by your employer. All they are doing is removing the incentive for employer based insurance, thats all.

P.S. I think a better solution would be not to tax either type of insurance but thats just me. Also the second half of McCain's plan was a $5000 health voucher or tax credit so you would eseentially not be paying taxes on your health care.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by Cool Hand Luke]

Originally posted by USamf

Administration open to taxing health benefits

www.msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is signaling to Congress that the president could support taxing some employee health benefits, as several influential lawmakers and many economists favor, to help pay for overhauling the health care system.

I think the key phrase here is taxing some employee health benefits. Up in Canada, we often have extended health benefits on top of the general government health care...prescription drugs, glasses, psychotherapy...that sort of thing, which is provided by the employer.
The employer's part of the premium is considered taxable income (as is only fair) and we pay tax on it accordingly. My guess is that your government is looking at the same type of thing.
We get by.

The only growth sector in the future U.S. economy will be the underground sector.

reply to post by Cool Hand Luke


If I were to just not get employer benefits and rather get it through a company on my own, my insurance would be un-godly higher than if I had what I have now with taxes.

Not only will your government tax you on your existing healthcare the purpose being to help usher in government healthcare, but I believe as government healthcare continues to take over private healthcare you will be required to have a microchip implant. The reason they will give for inserting the implants into your body is better healthcare and tracking of your medical records that will be computerized on a national basis. If you do not recieve the implant you and your family will not recieve healthcare.

Get ready for long lines at the government healthcare clinics and I foresee medical doctors leaving their practices and nurses because of a reduced pay structure. Will U.S. doctors leave this country and practice elsewhere for higher pay when the government takes over healthcare?

Do not kid yourself once the government takes over healthcare they also have your vote during the next elections. This government is all about controlling every aspect of your life. Name me one person that you know has been turned away if they need emergency medical care.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by amari]

Originally posted by s4dreamlnd93
This is another insidious attempt to make the current medical plans untenable to usher in Universal Healthcare.

Watch out for the next legislation against buying drugs from other countries. Searches for pills as you cross back into the US from Canada and Mexico.

They already *are* untenable. If your employer pays the benefits you don't really understand how untenable the costs are. By allowing employers to take a tax writeoff on the benefits they only shield the absurdity of the situation for a little longer. Go ask someone who is healthy and has to self-insure how affordable healthcare is...

there goes the supposed $13 bucks a weeks from the so called "stimulus package"

obamanation ie abonmination lol i like that

keep up the stupid obama pleaseeeeeeeee

your practically guaranteeing republican victories in 2010 and 2012..

hip hip horayyyy.

why dont he take the millionaires of medicare
why dont he take congressmen and senators of medicare and 401ks
once you served in congress if your your not currently in congress you given healthcare for life.

they are all millionaires thats some REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM!

anyone remember bush 1 " no new taxes" and we remember how well that worked out for him.

[edit on 15-3-2009 by neo67]

One week they raise the taxes on tobacco to get people to quit.

Then the next week they want to tax health benefits to get people to drop their health care?

Taxing something discourages its use. They can't have it both ways.

It's funny how many people scoffed and ridiculed us when we said during the campaign that Obama was going to raise taxes on everyone and find new ways to tax things.

Some people here on ATS didn't believe us and some called us Obama haters and racists for making such claims.

But now, look what's happening. It's unfolding exactly as we predicted!

Originally posted by sos37
It's funny how many people scoffed and ridiculed us when we said during the campaign that Obama was going to raise taxes on everyone and find new ways to tax things.

Some people here on ATS didn't believe us and some called us Obama haters and racists for making such claims.

But now, look what's happening. It's unfolding exactly as we predicted!

now, now comrad! mind your tongue and grab a candle! we are going to sing!

Oh! all hail Obama! Hail to the new motherland! Our new 2 class system! welcome socialism with open arms and this is what we get! Only poor and Rich! only poor and Rich!


Obbbaaaaaaammmmaaaaaa save us Oooooobaaaaaaammmaa!

“I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes” (Barack Obama, September 12, 2008, Dover, NH).



'Not on ANY of your taxes'

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

He lied about hiring lobbiests. He lied about raising taxes.
He lied all through the campaign. Lies, lies and more lies.

Change you can believe in. Riiiiiiiight.
BTW - I've got a bridge to sell ya'll ...

Originally posted by FlyersFan
He lied about hiring lobbiests. He lied about raising taxes. He lied all through the campaign. Lies, lies and more lies.

Well then, what have you done about it? Have you contacted your representatives and called them on the carpet for it? have you complained to anybody who can actually take the message upstairs?

'Cuz nobody needs another Keybord Kommando (with Action Avatar!)

Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck
Have you contacted your representatives and called them on the carpet for it?

Why would I need to call my represenatives and 'call them on the carpet' for Obama's lies? It's not their fault. And me calling them with a laundry list of his lies is silly.

But for the big things - like tax increases and lobbiests - yes I have complained TO the right people about Obama and his administration.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck
Have you contacted your representatives and called them on the carpet for it?

Why would I need to call my represenatives and 'call them on the carpet' for Obama's lies? It's not their fault. And me calling them with a laundry list of his lies is silly.

Are your Congressman or Senator not your direct link to the head of your government? Why not let them know their job depends on them hearing your voice?

But for the big things - like tax increases and lobbiests - yes I have complained TO the right people about Obama and his administration.

So, who would they be?...not a challenge, but an honest question. The MP in my new district is learning who I am.

Originally posted by JohnnyCanuck

Originally posted by FlyersFan
He lied about hiring lobbiests. He lied about raising taxes. He lied all through the campaign. Lies, lies and more lies.

Well then, what have you done about it? Have you contacted your representatives and called them on the carpet for it? have you complained to anybody who can actually take the message upstairs?

'Cuz nobody needs another Keybord Kommando (with Action Avatar!)

Uh - FYI, it's already been established that if any of us tried to file suit against Obama for any reason whatsoever that we as U.S. taxpaying citizens have no standing to sue Obama.

Couple that with the fact that the Obama's staff is villifying the GOP by picking on a talk-radio host and naming him their ad-hoc "leader" when no one in the GOP has made any such declaration - how do you expect our representatives to be taken seriously when/if they complain?

Example - the GOP was right to vote against the stimulus package because among other things, they KNEW companies like AIG would abuse the funds at taxpayers expense! The news that today Obama is having to threaten legal recourse in that whole mess is proof of that stand! But the Democratic machine would have you believe that the GOP voted against the stimulus package because they didn't want to see job growth, didn't want to see American economy recover, didn't want to see the recession end. Which is total BS!

So I ask you - what difference will it make if we do complain? Obama is still being given a pass right now for everything! Maybe in another 6 months after people have had enough of the pony show they will be open to listening to the complaints. But right now, Obama's spell hasn't yet worn off.

I just love being right! Strange how the all of the Obamatrons have virtually disappeared from this site. There used to be a day, about 6 weeks ago, that you couldn't criticize "The One" without a virtual torrent of defenders coming to his aid - deriding those of us with intelligence as "racists, bigots and haters."

Basically the only thing that you can take to the bank regarding Barry is that if his lips are moving, he's lying!