On the recordJuly 17, 2019
I support this legislation, H.R. 748. During our discussions on health reform in 2009, many of us strongly opposed the excise tax on so-called Cadillac employer-provided health plans. We were successful in keeping it out of the House version of the bill, but we all know it ended up in the final bill. It has been delayed since then, but now it is enactment time. This is imminent. We need to do something now. The Cadillac tax would impact employers and families whose health insurance plans cost more than $11,100 for an individual and $29,750 for family coverage. This is not a small universe, and the effects will be highly negative. If we do nothing, this tax would fall squarely on employees, encouraging employers to shift away from tax-free health benefits to taxable wages. As deductibles have risen more than 200 percent in the employer- sponsored insurance plans, the cost of care has continued to grow while wages remain flat. We must ensure that employers can continue to provide high-quality healthcare. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan repeal of the Cadillac tax.
