Subject: Health Benefit Tax ?? Comment: I just learned about the deliberations revolving around the Health Benefit Tax. I am a 15 year veteran health care analyst and consultant in the Chicago area. Over the past 5+ years we have watched the rate of health care inflation outpace GNP inflation by a ratio of between 3 and 5 to 1. Small employers, which make up the vast majority of businesses in the US, are dropping coverage. Employees are dropping coverage due to the high cost. While I think this is a bad move on their part, because of the potentially devasting consequences to an uninsured individual, this is happening. The addition of a health benefit tax, if fully taxed under the individual's income tax bracket, will increase the cost of health care between 18 and 35%. That, on top of the 9-11% increase projected this year, that is a huge financial debt to swallow. This would be terrible for businesses, employees and the economy. It's hard to believe that anyone would even consider this policy. |