Paying for New Healthcare Plan
I see that Senator Baucus is about to solve the issue of paying for healthcare reform—he wants to tax the insurance companies! Perhaps he is following the lead of Oregon Governor Kulongoski, who recently signed into law a new tax on health insurance companies operating in Oregon…in order to help pay for the “Oregon Plan.”
Needless to say, the Oregon health insurance companies immediately passed every penny of the new tax onto their insured through increases in premiums. What are these politicians thinking? Don’t they understand that taxing the insurance companies is simply taxing the insured through increased premiums?
This type of thinking is what is driving the small business person crazy—they don’t know what to think, or do, but many of those who have health insurance programs in place for their employees are certain that they will likely be dropping, or reducing, those plans. So, what is the government gaining if they price insurance premiums out of reach of small business?
Hopefully, there are enough people in Washington, who have some sense of reality, to overcome those who are totally out of touch. I know that is a lot to hope for, but maybe I’m just an optimist.
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