Over the past months a lot has been written about the health care bill. What about some details and costs - taxes? The following taxes and fees will be imposed on businesses and the people to pay the costs related to the bill starting now, but benefits will not be realized until about 2014:
• Ultra-violet treatments will have a 10 percent tax on the cost.
• A new tax on brand-name drugs used in government health care programs is imposed. Health savings account and flexible savings account patients can't use savings for over-the-counter medicines.
• Employers must disclose the value of benefits provided for health insurance on an employee's W-2 form (new taxes to be concerned about?).
• Medicare tax increased to 3.8 percent for earned income above $200,000 single or $250,000 for couple.
• Investment income tax of 3.8 percent on incomes above $200,000 single or $250,000 couple.
• 2.3 percent tax on almost all but general purchase medical devices.
• Individuals without health insurance will pay penalties of $695 or 2.5 percent of income whichever is greater. (Hello IRS).
• Employers with 50 or more workers who don't offer insurance or who offer coverage but employees receive a federal insurance subsidy will pay a tax of up to $2,000 for each employee over 30 employees.
• An annual tax on health insurance providers will be levied.
• A 40 percent tax on high-quality insurance plans defined as "high cost."
These business taxes and fees will be passed along to users of the company's services or products.
How many businesses will not hire the 50th employee because of the additional costs and regulations for the 50th? The true cost of this program is unknown, the benefits unclear. The true cost burden for everyone will increase.
All this while the government increases its labor force for at least 16,000 more IRS agents to enforce the new regulations.
And, included but not totally connected to actual health care, are the following:
• A new "army" of so-called health-care workers (Will this be Obama's private army?)
• Federally supported student loan funds.
• Nursing student loan program.
• Health-care workforce loan repayment programs.
• Public health workforce recruitment and retention programs.
• Allied health workforce recruitment and retention programs.
• Grants for state and local programs.
• Ready Reserve Corps (For ...?)
How many taxpayers are required to pay for one IRS position? Fifteen to 20? More? Sixteen-thousand IRS agents require at least 320,000 taxpayers before office space, supplies and general needs costs are considered. Where's the health care benefit to America?
Bottom line: The poorly drafted health care bill is like eating crab legs: You have to do an awful lot of picking to get a little bit of meat.
• Dennis Johnson is a member of the Carson City Republican Committee.