Posted on 09/02/2009 10:03:05 PM PDT by Steelfish
California Senate Approves Tax On Health Insurers
The measure would help prevent the removal of nearly 700,000 children from a government health insurance program for the working poor. The bill now moves to the Assembly.
By Eric Bailey September 2, 2009
Reporting from Sacramento - State lawmakers pushed forward today with an agreement to keep nearly 700,000 children from being yanked off a government health insurance program for the working poor.
The state Senate passed a measure that would create a tax on health insurance companies and bring in federal money to rescue the program, which had been deeply cut in recent months as lawmakers scrambled to balance the state budget.
The proposal, offered by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D- Los Angeles), won unanimous approval from Democrats. It also had support from three Republican lawmakers who broke ranks with GOP colleagues troubled that the plan involved a new tax on business.
But the levy, a 2.25% tax on the gross premiums of health insurance companies that serve Healthy Families, was supported by the industry.
Republican lawmakers came under intense pressure in recent days as the health insurers lobbied them to support the measure while anti-tax stalwarts -- including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. -- urged rejection.
The Senate vote was 27 to 8.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It’s a tax on businesses, thank goodness. Lucky the poor schlub taxpayers like us won’t get clobbered by this tax. The evil insurance companies will have to pay for it.
Now excuse me while I head back home at NutRoots.
The California government is insane. They can’t drive business to Nevada and beyond fast enough. Now they have to drive out the insurers. Imbeciles.
Translation: $60 to $80 per month, for every insured family in the state.
All insurers will pass this on as a direct transfer, and most businesses will pass the cost directly onto employees, especially those with family coverage.
Guess the times forgot to do the math on this one.
Last one out of California, turn out the lights.
So we all get pay more for health insurance... And all along the government is telling us there here to help us lower our costs...
EZ- the idiotic masses thinks that the big filthy insurance companies are hit where it hurts and the insureds are spared the effect of the blow.
I would laugh this off as a resident of Idaho, but I'm afraid the company will have the gross premiums of the entire company taxed because of the presence in CA.
I work for a company with a presence in most U.S. states and many foreign countries. They would have to close up shop at all the CA locations to dodge this bullet. I suspect the financial burden will be laid on the backs of all company employees in the form of higher monthly assessments.
geesh stop with the tax increases already. you guys in ca are insane.
Let’s see...
You tax insurance companies to buy insurance.
Sounds like the ‘rats have discovered the perpetual motion machine!!
Gotta love Liberalism...
Don’t be so fast.
The insurers will just raise their “service fee” brought by the new tax.
The service fee increases will again trickle down as additional burden to the people who have religiously paid their premiums over the years.
So, in effect, TAX IS ALWAYS TAX. Excessive taxation, such as in California, will just create more uninsured children from the “poor” families.
Ah, the spoils of the 0bamacare farce.
Isn’t it grand to be a politician in America these days?
All that power must be utterly exhilarating.
I just love politicians—simply the finest that the human race has to offer, I tell ya.
My insurance carrier SCAN gets all their money from the federal government under Medicare and Medicare Advantage, the beneficiary pays nothing.
Will they tax the government premium?
To hell with the rug rats, let their parents foot the bill!
That’s it—have parental responsibility. CA legislature is so ultra liberal it is a travesty. They keep getting voted in!!!! Go figure.
That should bring the cost of health insurance premiums.
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