Seeing’ Red at Reconciliation over Medicine Cabinet Tax

big government ^ | 3/25/10 | John Berlau

[Nachum]

“They won’t be so opposed to it once they see what’s in it.” That’s the rationalization House leaders gave skittish Democrats to get them to walk the plank on Obamacare Sunday night.

But one of the first things millions of Americans will “see” is an effective 40 percent tax hike on the over-the-counter medicines – from an antihistamine such as Claritin for allergies, pain relief medicine such as Tylenol or Excedrin, Pedialyte to prevent their kids from becoming dehydrated when they are sick, and even prenatal vitamins if they are expecting another one.

All of these items have two things in common. One is that they are classified as “over the counter” (OTC) medicines and available without a doctor’s prescription. The other is that if you pay for any of these items with money in your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) – and according to this guide from FSA administrator Benesyst , all of these are eligible expenses — you will face an effective tax increase of up to 40 percent on these items in the health care bill that President Obama recently signed.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[WOBBLY BOB]

A trifecta of boobs and tyrants approve Obamacare:

Commmunist Party U.S.A. Newspaper Applauds Passage Of Obamacare

In about a dozen paragraphs, the CPUSA has managed to include almost every Democrat Party talking point!

http://www.peoplesworld.org/health-care-victory/

Cuban leader applauds US health-care reform bill

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_HEALTH_CARE_FIDEL_CASTRO?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-03-25-12-11-57

U.N. health organization praises U.S. health

The people in this country and their leaders are courageous. That (healthcare reform) is an unprecedented achievement,” WHO Director General Margaret Chan said. She was speaking to reporters after a lecture in which she argued that unrestricted market forces were limited as a means of redressing imbalances in global health care.

(Excerpt)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62N5AU20100324

[unkus]

mmmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmm Barack Hyssein Obama mmmmmm mmmmm mmmm

[Principled]

Here’s another commercial to be made.

Honey, the pedialite is way more expensive now - we can only buy one bottle. I hope the baby will be ok with just one.

The hits just keep on coming.

[Williams]

Holy God Almighty!

[backwoods-engineer]

Keep at it, DemocRATS. Keep messing with our health, and things are going to get very bad for you, very fast.

What nation ever taxed itself out of a depression?

[TruthConquers]

“...if you pay for any of these items with money in your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) ...”

So, don’t use your HSA or FSA to buy OTC then.

But have they put ANY use of your HSA or FSA money, a 40% tax?

More of what is in this evil bill needs to be exposed.
And make your own re-hydration liquid.

[AdamBomb]

If you have an HSA, buy a buttload of OTC meds at the end of 2010 to avoid this tax. Most of it will have a shelf life for a 3 years or more.

[AdamBomb]

"So, don’t use your HSA or FSA to buy OTC then."

that's not the way it works. if you paid with your HSA, that money was pretax on your wages. If you pay out of pocket you are getting taxed on those wages. it's not a tax at the store.

[SueRae]

And you better buy them this year, cuz they also cut the max amount of Healthcare spending accounts to $2500, starting next year.

[EEgirl]

You don’t evade the effective tax increase by not paying out of your HSA or FSA. The effective tax increase is as a result of not being ABLE to buy these items through your HSA or FSA anymore. That means that money is now taxable income. It wasn’t prior to the bill.

[langoley]

That is it,,a 40% tax on Airborne (pills/formula) 􀂃 Toiletries, tissue, cosmetics or items (including RX) primarily used for general health & every day living 􀂃 Toothpaste or toothbrushes (electric or otherwise), even if a dentist recommends, dental whitening/bleaching systems, floss 􀂃 Chapstick, lip balms, etc. 􀂃 Mouth washes, oral rinses (that claim to treat bad breath, gingivitis) 􀂃 Face/body creams, cleansers, oils, gels, lotions – for all skin types (i.e. itchy dry skin) and suntan lotion 􀂃 Scar care: creams, ointment, sheets, solutions 􀂃 Shampoos and soaps including medicated 􀂃 Vitamins, minerals and amino acids 􀂃 Sleep aids without pain reliever 􀂃 Supplements (fiber, herbal or combination) for general health, weight loss, protection of disease and normal function of the body 􀂃 Feminine products as well as hygiene products, lubricants, cleansers, wipes, sprays, etc. 􀂃 Diet food 􀂃 Immune system support 􀂃 Personal use items i.e. bed coverings/accessories, vacuums, furniture 􀂃 Caffeine Pills (stay awake pills)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the tax hike will bring in $5 billion in revenues over ten years – itself a drop in the bucket when compared to the bill’s new trillion-dollar entitlement – but that estimate doesn’t take into account behavioral changes as a direct result of this provision.

D@mn straight it doesn't! Stock up and batten down the hatches. Make your own PediaLite and buy yourself a Netty Pot for your sinuses. If anyone wants advice on feminine hygeine products you can make for yourself, do a little Googling. It can be done. :)

These idiots have NO idea how self-sufficient and subversive we can become. :)