Action Center
Oppose Taxes On Health Insurance!

As Congress considers comprehensive healthcare reform, they need to craft a plan that will guarantee high-quality and affordable healthcare for all.

Healthcare reform is a crucial ingredient in strengthening this country. Rising healthcare costs put a tremendous strain on families, businesses, state governments and the federal budget. By working together to enact fair reform, we can create a better healthcare system that truly serves all Americans, making us healthier both physically and economically.

Successful reform should establish a comprehensive public plan that guarantees a choice of high-quality, affordable coverage, whether through an individual, employer-based plan or a government-sponsored, public health insurance plan.

Individuals already are struggling to pay for the rising costs of healthcare. Congress needs to reject taxing employer-provided plans as this would be an additional expense for Americans who get their health benefits through their employers.

Introducing a new tax on health benefits is the wrong prescription for fixing and reforming healthcare!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Oppose Taxes on Health Insurance

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am a member of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF).

As Congress considers comprehensive healthcare reform, I am writing to urge you to craft a plan that will guarantee high-quality and affordable healthcare for all.

Healthcare reform is a crucial ingredient in strengthening this country. Rising healthcare costs put a tremendous strain on families, businesses, state governments and the federal budget. By working together to enact fair reform, we can create a better healthcare system that truly serves all Americans, making us healthier both physically and economically.

Successful reform should establish a comprehensive public plan that guarantees a choice of high-quality, affordable coverage, whether through an individual, employer-based plan or a government-sponsored, public health insurance plan.

I am strongly opposed to any proposal to tax employer-provided health insurance, and I urge you to reject such a plan if it emerges. Individuals already are struggling to pay for the rising costs of healthcare. Taxing employer-provided plans would be an additional expense for Americans who get their health benefits through their employers. Introducing a new tax on health benefits is the wrong prescription for fixing and reforming healthcare.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 15, 2009


Background Information

Taxing Employer-Provided Health Benefits – Health Care Reform
Employer-provided health insurance is a tax-free benefit to employees.  Proposals have surfaced to impose a new tax on employer-provided health insurance and treat these benefits as taxable income.  This plan would be costly for workers, especially union members with valuable health insurance benefits.

PEF opposes taxing the value of employer-provided health care benefits as if it were income.