Letter to the Editor; Obama care is costing us and is not tax deductable

Obama care or the ASA includes taxes on about 30 different things. The first one took effect on January 1. It targets small business (under 50 employees) and individual markets. It is projected to collect $8 billion in 2014 and $101 billion over the next decade.

Most employers with more than 500 workers and most union negotiated health plans are self-insured and thus are spared from the tax. So is insurance run on behalf of "Government Entities" such as original Medicare. this political selectivity means that most gold plated public, private, and labor plans are exempt. Thus, the tax burden falls on the people who work for small business, self-employees, and individuals who can least afford it. the White House has been telling us the tab will be picked up by deep-pocketed insurers, which is another falsehood.

The CBO director says that this will boost insurance cost by 2 to 2 and 1/2% and the average cost will be at least $500 per person by 2020.

The tax is not dedictable for income tax purposes as the IRS consider it a fee. Does that sound fair to you?

Gerald W. Ray

Spokane