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Originally Posted by kane
I see. So say, hypothetically, you worked for a company that provided your health insurance and that insurance cost $7500 a year. You would then have to pay taxes on that $7500 as if it were income correct? That sucks.
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Yes that's the gist of it. Although most of the plans currently on the table would only tax a portion of that, not all of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo
Taxing employer-sponsored health benefits in a time when it's already tough for employers to provide health insurance is the most fucking retarded thing I've ever heard.
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You're missing the point. The tax won't be borne by the employers and it won't affect their ability to provide coverage for their employees.
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Originally Posted by SCORE-Cash
Exactly, which might make someone consider getting an outside plan, so that they could pay less taxes.
Keep in mind that this would include Dental, Health and possibly even Aflac. Which as stated above, could be several thousands of dollars, depending on the number of dependents that your employer covers.
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That's part of the argument for taxing the benefits. By giving employer based benefits special tax considerations, it distorts the free market and doesn't encourage consumers to act in an efficient manner.
I'm not saying I agree with that, I'm just saying that's one of the big arguments the proponents of taxing benefits make.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kane
I remember Obama blasting McCain because he was planing on doing this. If he blasted McCain for it then turns around and does it without something in place that could allow people to get equal heath care without the heavy taxes it is going to reflect pretty poorly on him.
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Well it's important to remember that this isn't Obama's idea. It's something that's been put on the table by members of congress, and in order to negotiate in good faith Obama can't dismiss it out of hand.
You can't get comprehensive reform passed without putting everything on the table. It may be something he has to "give" in the process of "give and take" in order to get something done.
As opposed to standing on principle and winning the media war, but not getting anything done for the American people.