Subject: Taxation of Healthcare Benefits Comment: Once again, we have a tax proposal that hurts middle and lower income workers. The affluent have the ability to pay for the top-tier health plans, and they are also the ones who can afford the costs of the newly-popular Boutique medical practices. In addition, they are the ones who will be able to afford to set aside money through the HSA/High Deductible plans as they become more popular. And as we all know, HSA's are nothing more than another way for the rich to defer paying taxes on money they can use for retirement. The taxes the rich would pay on their health benefits would be paid out of their bounty. The taxes the middle and lower income workers would pay on their healthcare benefits would further erode their buying power for necessities. In addition, it may drive some people to drop their insurance. Lower paid employees are already forced into HMO coverage because they can't afford the premiums and copayments associated with PPO's and traditional indemnity plans. Despite the fact that many bankruptcies are a direct result of medical bills, that door will soon close for many workers. It's almost criminal to consider adding to the tax burden of average workers. I would much rather see the rich get a free ride on their value of their own healthcare benefits than to take a penny out of the pockets of the average citizen. |