Health Care For America Now Says, “Tax The Rich”
New Television and Print Ads: Taxing Health Plans Is Wrong Way to Pay for Health Care Reform
***See “Right Way” Ads Here: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/RightWay***
Washington, DC – Health Care for America Now (HCAN) – the nation’s largest health care campaign – launched a new print and television advertising campaign today saying there is a right way and a wrong way to pay for health care reform. HCAN says rather than taxing the health care benefits of middle-income families, we should ask those making more than $250,000 a year to pay their fair share and ask all but the smallest businesses to contribute.
The television ad titled “Right Way” will air for one week on national CNN and MSNBC, broadcast and cable in DC, and during Sunday political programs in select states. The print ad appears in The Washington Post, The Hill, CongressDaily, Politico, and Congressional Quarterly.
See the TV and print ads here: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/RightWay
The Senate Finance bill passed Tuesday would pay for reform by taxing higher premium - or so-called “Cadillac” - plans. The 40% tax that kicks in after a plan exceeds $8,000 for an individual or $21,000 for a family will get passed down from insurance companies to consumers. The tax is projected to affect up to 40% of health plans by 2019 – just six years after it takes effect – according to a preliminary analysis by the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and will fall on workers who live in high-cost states, who live in states with few insurers, or who are a part of an older workforce. Health Care for America Now instead is urging Congress to raise revenues from people making more than $250,000 a year.
“We’re now at a crossroads, and there is a very clear distinction between the right way and wrong way to pay for health care reform,” said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care For America Now (HCAN). “We believe it’s right to ask those making more than $250,000 a year to pay their fair share and wrong to tax the benefits of middle-income families.”
As the Senate now considers legislation passed by the HELP and Finance Committees, Health Care for America Now is urging lawmakers to bring a bill to the floor that is truly affordable for America’s families and businesses – one that includes progressive financing, shared responsibility, and a national public health insurance option available on day one.
“Right Way” Script:
VIDEO:
Still photographs and video of workers.
SUPER: 40% tax on health care benefits of middle-class workers.
Stills of corporate buildings.
SUPER: Ask people making more than $250,000 to pay their fair share.
White screen with HCAN logo and SUPER: Tell Congress: Choose the right way to pay for health care reform.
AUDIO :
We all know America needs real health care reform, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to pay for it.
Some Senators say they want to tax so-called “Cadillac” health care plans, but those proposals will also tax the benefits of millions of middle class workers.
There’s a better way. Let’s ask individuals making more than $250,000 to pay their fair share.
Tell Congress to choose the right way to pay for health care reform.
Sources:
Reed Abelson, "A Tax on Cadillac Health Plans May Also Hit the Chevys," The New York Times, September 20, 2009. Accessed at
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/health/policy/21insure.html
Senator Max Baucus, "Baucus Modifies Chairman's Mark to Improve Health Care Affordability, Maintain Deficit Reductions," September 22, 2009. Accessed at http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb092209c.pdf
US House Committee on Ways and Means, "How the Health Care Surcharge Works." Accessed at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/htsw.pdf
***See “Right Way” Ads Here: HealthCareforAmericaNow.org/RightWay***
