The Tennessee ConserVOLiance

A Page by Page Guide to Democrats’ Health Care Bill

The Democrats’ $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page health care bill contains many provisions that will increase the cost of health care in America. Here are just a few:

• Page 324 includes an $8 billion tax on individuals that have non-government “approved” health plans.
• Page 348 levies a $28 billion tax on businesses that cannot afford to offer insurance to their employees.
• Page 1979 raises an almost $150 billion tax on many middle-class workers using so-called “Cadillac” health insurance plans.
• Page 1997 will cost families and individuals an additional $5 billion by prohibiting the use of savings set aside for health care expenses through health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts or health reimbursement accounts for the purchase of non-prescription or over the counter medicines.
• Page 2010 will make the cost of lifesaving medicine more expensive by taxing pharmaceutical research firms an additional $22.2 billion.
• Page 2020 will ultimately lead to increases in the cost of advanced medical devices like pacemakers by raising taxes on medical device manufacturers an additional $19.3 billion.
• Page 2026 will increase the health care premiums paid by millions of Americans through a new $60.4 billion tax on health insurance companies.
• Page 2040 increases the Medicare payroll tax on those earning more than $250,000. This new tax would cost $53.8 billion.
• Page 2044 will eliminate a tax break in current law on Blue Cross / Blue Shield Providers and Beneficiaries, which equals about half a billion dollars annually, if at least 85 percent of revenues are not spent on clinical services. This new tax will result in higher premiums.
• Page 2045 will create a $5.8 billion tax for patients receiving elective cosmetic surgery.

Click here to read the bill for yourself.