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TExas faces a double challenge when it comes to providing healthcare. The Lone Star state leads the nation in the number of uninsured Americans. We also rank in fifth place for healthcare costs.
The new Federal Policy proposal threatens to worsen both statistics by loading families and employers, charging more for higher health insurance.
Currently, workers receive the health benefits provided by the employer without taxes-the benefits are “excluded” from income. Some members of the Congress want to limit tax benefits and kill a federal tax on employers sponsored insurance premiums over the government -defined thresholds. But as health and inflation costs continue to increase, these tax restrictions are rapidly lagging behind the increase in premiums. As a result, what was once considered a high -cost plan includes the typical health benefits provided by the employer influencing the working -class families and small businesses.
The imposition of tax on hard -loving texas insurance premiums can lead to the fact that families earn $ 100,000 a year, facing an additional $ 3,500 taxes on healthcare. Families who earn less than $ 42,000 will be saddened by $ 1.250 additional taxes and both are likely to see additional costs in the form of higher deductions and payments. These increases are unstable difficulties, as most Texas already reports that they feel increased stress due to inflation.
Employers sponsored by employers are crucial to Americans and much of it comes from small business. In Texas, 68% of small employers offer medical benefits, with 64% of employees benefiting from them – numbers that exceed the national average. With 365,200 small employers throughout the country hiring over 1490,000 people, these enterprises cover a significant portion of healthcare costs, supporting 76% of the cost of individual employees and 59% for families.
This proposed tax would strongly strain small businesses that already see higher operating costs. An increase in healthcare costs leads to reduced employee benefits, interferes with job creation and contributes to poor health results among working -class families.
While fiscal weights cannot be neglected, the most important measure of texas and their families is their health and well-being. Among the adults under 65, 85% of uninsured individuals. Frequently miss or delay the necessary treatments due to cost concerns. A strong healthcare system provided by the employer plays a decisive role in promoting public health.
Despite the obstacles, Texas tends to be in the right direction, increasing the number of residents with private health coverage. Between 2021 and 2022, more than 700,000 previously uninsured Texas have received private health insurance, managed to a large extent by increased accessibility and accessibility. We know that when there are available options, Texas are eager to provide healthcare coverage for themselves and their families.
Indeed, Texas faces significant challenges in providing affordable and comprehensive health care to their residents. However, my short -sighted proposals from Washington to health care, sponsored by taxes, will not solve these problems; They will only worsen the problems and push the medical coverage out of reach for our working class. This would extend the difference in healthcare, straining families financially and suffocating economic growth for employers.
As Texas is confronted with high uninsured rates and increasing costs of health care, the federal tax health policy proposal threatens to increase the cost of less effective coverage. Politicians should prioritize sustainable solutions that guarantee that texas can have access to health care without financial tension. This means focusing on accessible healthcare access and supporting small business to provide vital medical benefits to your employees without consequences. Congress should not increase federal revenue by taxing healthcare.
Texas urgently need federal legislators to protect our health care and to protect the decisive role of small businesses to provide basic medical benefits. By rejecting this tax scheme and maintaining manageable medical expenses, we can achieve better health results and guarantee access to vital medical services.
Katie Adams of Rockport is the first vice president of the Eagle Forum.
