tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047195573424044176.post8018147008486910965..comments2023-10-30T04:42:55.912-07:00Comments on JRG Health & Human Services Policy Update: On the Republican "Alternatives"John R. Grahamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09420909459359064358noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2047195573424044176.post-29766754917188758042010-11-06T11:08:14.337-07:002010-11-06T11:08:14.337-07:00I can remember Robert Moffit at Heritage talking a...I can remember Robert Moffit at Heritage talking about the employer tax exclusion on <i>This Week with David Brinkley,</i> back in 1993 when Hillarycare was still looming. But I have yet to see any real progress in this area.<br /><br />To get the ball rolling, we need better analysis of the <i>status quo,</i> with emphasis on the <i>lysis.</i> I'd start by breaking out the various facets of the tax exclusion, such as:<br />a) The tax break is tied to employer-sponsored coverage<br />b) The tax break is tied to ERISA/HIPAA compliant coverage, which is essentially guaranteed issue (within limits) and uses modified community rating.<br />c) The tax break is regressive and its size is purely an accident of an individual's tax bracket, rather than some deliberately chosen value.<br /><br />If considering the tax exclusion in the light of possible alternatives, we can further break it down into:<br />1) What to do with people who currently benefit from the tax break, and<br />2) What to offer those who do not have employer-sponsored insurance.<br /><br />The resulting 3x2 matrix of attributes and remedies might be a helpful tool for finding a politically feasible way out of the current mess. (No doubt the matrix could be expanded as other issues become important).<br /><br />At the very least, this is one way to map out priorities or at least open them for debate. I suggest starting out by giving lowest priority to the impossible, and highest priority to that which is both possible and essential.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18101932060275311085noreply@blogger.com