Text 3985, 98 rader
Skriven 2007-01-22 23:31:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0701229) for Mon, 2007 Jan 22
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Setting the Record Straight: President Bush's Standard Deduction for Health
Insurance Would Save Money for More Than 100 Million Americans
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For Immediate Release
January 22, 2007

Setting the Record Straight: President Bush's Standard Deduction for Health
Insurance Would Save Money for More Than 100 Million Americans


ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Health Care

"So in my State of the Union Address next Tuesday, I will propose a tax
reform designed to help make basic private health insurance more affordable
 whether you get it through your job or on your own."

 President George W. Bush, 1/20/07

Senate Democrats: "President Bush's Health Insurance Proposal Amounts To A
Tax Hike For The Middle Class."ÿ(Press Release, Senate Democratic
Communications Center, 1/22/07)
  þ 

    Under President Bush's Proposed Standard Deduction For Health
    Insurance, More Than 100 Million Americans Who Now Get Health Insurance
    Through An Employer Would Save Money.
  þ 

    President Bush's Proposed Standard Deduction For Health Insurance Would
    Lower Taxes For The Middle Class.ÿ The standard deduction for health
    insurance would be like the standard deduction for dependents.ÿ This
    proposal will result in lower taxes for about 80 percent of
    employer-provided policies. ÿThose with more generous policies (20
    percent) will have the option to adjust their compensation to have
    lower premiums and higher wages to offset the tax change.ÿ In the
    aggregate, this results in a tax cut for the middle class.ÿ For
    example:
      þ 

        Under The President's Proposed Standard Deduction For Health
        Insurance, A Family Of Four With Annual Income Of $60,000 And
        Employer-Provided Health Insurance Would Save $424 In Taxes.ÿ
      þ 

        Under The President's Proposed Standard Deduction For Health
        Insurance, An Uninsured Family Of Four With Income Of $60,000 Who
        Chose To Purchase Health Insurance Would Receive A $4,545 Tax
        Break.ÿ In 2009, the President's proposal would reduce the
        after-tax cost of the average-priced policy by 75 percent  from
        $6,100 to $1,555.
          þ 

            If This Same Family Bought A Basic Insurance Policy With A
            $4,700 Premium, They Would Receive The Same $4,545 Tax Break,
            And They Would Pay Only $155 After Taxes For Basic Health
            Insurance.ÿ

  þ 

    All Americans Who Now Buy Health Insurance On Their Own (Rather Than
    Through Their Employers) Would Pay Lower Taxes.ÿ The average tax bill
    for this group would decline by $3,650 in 2009.
  þ 

    All Uninsured Americans Who Purchase Health Insurance Would Pay Lower
    Taxes.ÿ The President's proposal will lower the average tax bill of a
    family without health insurance by $3,350 in 2009.

Senate Democrats: The President's Proposal Will Not "Encourage The
Uninsured To Purchase Health Coverage On Their Own."
  þ 

    The President's Proposal Will Make Health Insurance More Affordable For
    Americans Who Are Now Uninsured.ÿUninsured Americans who purchase
    health insurance would receive significant tax relief as a result of
    the President's proposal.ÿ This will provide a significant incentive to
    all working Americans to purchase insurance coverage, thereby reducing
    the number of uninsured Americans.

Senate Democrats: "The Nation's Health Insurance Crisis Has Worsened."
  þ 

    The President Pushed For Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) In Part To
    Address High Insurance Costs And To Reduce The Number Of Uninsured.ÿ To
    further lower health care costs, the President has proposed Association
    Health Plans (AHPs) and medical liability reforms, and implemented
    policies to encourage health information technology and price
    transparency.ÿ

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