Rep. Foxx Cosponsoring Health Care Reform Legislation That Will Cost American Families Thousands
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) is cosponsoring H.R. 3218, the "Improving Health Care for All Americans Act." Unsurprisingly, the legislation seeks to provide a grossly inadequate tax credit for families to purchase health coverage.
Rep. Foxx's $5,000 Tax Credit Is Grossly Insufficient...
HR 3218 Bases Its Reforms On A Tax Credit. According to the press release: "'Our healthcare system is in need of reform,' Foxx said. 'This legislation addresses the serious gaps in health insurance coverage that exist for many families. By creating tax credits for uninsured families and new Individual Membership Associations Congress will help make healthcare more affordable and portable.'" [Foxx.House.gov, 7/28/09]
HR 3218 Tax Credit Is $5,000 Per Family. Rep. Foxx's press release also states: "H.R. 3218 helps uninsured families get coverage through three different policy changes:
- First, it creates a health insurance tax credit of up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families.
- It also expands insurance options and access to health insurance by creating Individual Membership Associations (IMAs). IMAs would expand insurance coverage by allowing groups like trade associations, churches and other civic groups to offer affordable insurance to their members.
- Finally, H.R. 3218 provides federal incentives for states to create high risk insurance pools for Americans who have difficulty securing health insurance." [Foxx.House.gov, 7/28/09]
...Because A Family's Premiums Will Be $25,000 By 2016
New America Foundation: Family Health Coverage Will Be Nearly $25,000 By 2016. According to the New America Foundation, under the current system of health care delivery in the United States, the full cost of an employer-based health plan for a family will be $24,291 by 2016. [New America Foundation, The Cost of Doing Nothing, November 2008]
"The Total Premiums To Cover A Family Are Up To $12,680." The National Conference of State Legislatures reported: "In 2008 the average fully insured individual faced an employee share of $725 for 1-person coverage and a $3,354 annual share for family coverage. The total premiums to cover a family are up to $12,680 according to the annual Kaiser/HRET survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits." [NCSL.org, accessed 1/13/09, emphasis added]
