Democratic Leaders Reach Compromise on Taxing Health Plans

By GottaLaff

This is getting lost in all the Haiti news:

The White House and Congressional leaders have reached a tentative deal on a proposed excise tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored insurance plans to be included in the final version of major health care legislation, according to officials familiar with the talks.

Officials did not immediately provide details of the tentative agreement, but it is expected to include an increase in the thresholds at which policies are hit by the tax.

The Senate bill currently would impose a 40 percent tax on the amount of policies for individuals above $8,500 and family plans above $23,000. [...]

Congressional leaders have been careful to stress that nothing is agreed on in the health care talks until everything is agreed on. But a deal on the excise tax would be a major breakthrough.