There is a secret tax in the Republican health care bill that GOP supporters are trying to keep hidden. Older Americans are going to pay an increasing in premiums that amounts to a 20%-25% tax on their health insurance.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) released a 50 state report detailing the impact of Trumpcare on older Americans.
According to Sen. Casey, “Under the Republican plan, by 2026, the average premium in the nongroup or individual market for someone age 64 will be 20 to 25 percent higher than it would be under current law. In Pennsylvania, the “age tax†will raise premiums for a 60 year old earning $40,000 by $2,300 annually. And, that same 60 year old will lose out on $4,000 in tax credits.”
The Republican health care bill assumes that older Americans will do one of two things. They will either buy a more expensive insurance policy that offers less coverage, or they will not have health insurance.
The Republicans can claim that their plan lowers premiums overall by giving older and sicker people less health care. Paul Ryan and Trump administration officials talk about “access” to insurance that can be purchased. What they leave out of the discussion is who will be covered and how much it will cost to get coverage.
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Republicans are supposed to be anti-tax, but they have constructed a health care bill that contains a giant tax increase on people age 50-64.
Trumpcare contains a dirty little secret, and no matter how much Republicans try to hide it, the American people are finding out.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
