Democratic Leaders Reach Compromise on Taxing Health Plans

[gateley]

Officials Say Deal Is Reached on Insurance-Plan Tax, Key Stumbling Block in Health Care Talks

The White House and Congressional leaders have reached a
tentative deal on a proposed excise tax on high-cost,
employer-sponsored insurance plans to be included in the
final version of major health care legislation, according to
officials familiar with the talks.

Officials did not immediately provide details of the tentative agreement,
but it is expected to include an increase in the thresholds at which policies are hit by the tax.

The Senate bill currently would impose a 40 percent tax on the amount of policies for individuals above $8,500 and family plans above $23,000.

House Democrats and organized labor groups have been resisting the tax, which they say will hit many union-sponsored health plans and force an increase in medical expenses for many middle class families.

more >>> http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/democratic-leaders-reach-compromise-on-taxing-health-plans/?emc=na

[Cant trust em]

1. I still prefer the house tax plan. nt

[backscatter712]

2. It's promising.

From what I've been reading, the unions will get a break from the excise tax, the threshold will be raised to keep middle/working class people from getting burned, and they might impose a small millionaire tax to make sure enough money's raised to keep things deficit-neutral.

[Mithreal]

3. Biden makes an interesting point about how much this union benefit is worth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5YXs788uM