Pro-ACA Democrats Introduce HR Policy-Supported "Cadillac" Tax Repeal Bill With Bipartisan Support

Federal Health Care Reform

This week, Representative Joe Courtney (CT-D) introduced the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 2050), which would repeal the excise tax on high-cost health insurance plans scheduled to go into effect in 2018.  The bill currently has 68 Democrat and 3 Republican cosponsors.  According to Rep. Courtney, “The excise tax is a poorly designed penalty that will put a dent in the pocketbooks of many families and businesses with health insurance plans that do not resemble the 'Cadillac' plans originally targeted when this policy was adopted—instead, the excise tax will punish people living in higher cost areas, with 'Ford Focus' level plans. . . The excise tax is not a smart reform--it is a flawed, one-size-fits-all penalty that will degrade workers' benefits, lead employers to choose less comprehensive plans, and force families to pay more out-of-pocket health care costs.”  A similar bill introduced by Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH), H.R. 879, currently has 31 Republican cosponsors.