Dear Members of Congress,
On behalf of the 700+ businesses of Chamber630, representing a diverse group of industries and interests, I urge Congress to work with to protect the health care of the more than 181 million Americans who receive health care coverage through an employer. We are asking members of Congress to cosponsor the bipartisan HR 748, the Middle-Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, and to work together to swiftly repeal the impending 40% tax on employer-provided health care before working Americans and their families, who are already stretched too thin, are hit with this onerous tax increase.
Congress has acted twice to protect Americans from the consequences of the “Cadillac Tax,” but this policy is already causing an adverse effect on the affordability and quality of health coverage available to employees and their families. According to Kaiser Family Foundation 2018 data, since 2010, deductibles have risen 89%, while wage growth has remained comparatively flat.
While this tax was intended to only hit Americans with “gold-plated” plans, the reality is that very modest plans covering low- and moderate-income working families are projected to trigger the tax. The tax will disproportionately tax the health plans of women, seniors, working middle class families, the sick, and the disabled. Small businesses that already struggle to offer health care coverage will also be heavily penalized. This tax has real and harmful consequences – Americans cannot afford to pay more for their health care.
Employer-provided coverage is the backbone of our health care system and the primary source of coverage for the majority of Americans. According to 2018 mid-term election polling, 81% of voters oppose taxing employer-provided health coverage.
The looming 40% “Cadillac Tax” on employer-provided health coverage is widely opposed by both Republicans and Democrats. Over 300 members of the House of Representatives cosponsored legislation in the last Congress to repeal the tax.
To cosponsor this important legislation please reach out to maria.costigan@mail.house.gov with Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) or brendan.fulmer@mail.house.gov with Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA). Working families are already stretched too thin. Let’s work together to keep health care affordable and available for 181 million Americans.
Sincerely,
Laura Crawford
