Posts tagged as:

health insurance

Obama Opposes Taxing Health Care Benefits

13 July 2009

Don’t call it the Obama health care tax. On Sunday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius clarified on CNN’s State of the Union that the proposal being considered in Congress to tax employer provided health care benefits was not endorsed by her boss. Obama had opposed such a tax during his candidacy; his opponent, [...]

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Health Care Plan Leaves Huge Hole in the Budget

9 July 2009

In an effort to fund their massive health care plan, members of Congress are scrambling to find revenue. After searching under their car seats and sofa cushions for extra change, they have basically admitted that the well is simply dry. And that proposal to tax employer provided health care benefits? It’s just not picking up [...]

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Taxing Health Care Benefits

3 July 2009

Ever since President Obama raised the idea of taxing health care benefits, I’ve been asked what I think about the plan. Specifically, I’ve received a number of emails which more or less ask three questions: How would it work? Do I think it’s fair? Do I like it? I’m happy to oblige. But first, some [...]

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Will Obama Make Employee Health Benefits Taxable?

12 March 2009

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) isn’t a fan of limiting the itemized deductions for higher wage earners. I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of the idea and I don’t think it will pass in Congress. But Baucus has another idea. He’s asked Treasury Secretary Geithner whether the Obama administration would consider changing the current [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Contacts, Glasses and Other Medical Expenses

5 March 2009

Taxpayer asks: My friend says that you can deduct contacts on your taxes as medical costs. I thought you could only deduct doctor’s visits. Can I really take those off of my taxes? What about glasses? Taxgirl says: If you itemize your deductions, you can absolutely include the cost of contacts and glasses as medical [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Health Insurance Premiums for Family

23 December 2008

Taxpayer asks: Hi Taxgirl… Quick question…I live in CA My current employer, as part of his benefit plan, pays for my medical insurance. If I want to get medical for the rest of my family, I have to pay extra. According to someone who works here, they claim that is deductible as a medical expense [...]

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Alabama Imposes “Fat Tax”

28 October 2008

Just one week after I published my primer on Alabama state taxes, an article was posted on TheRoot.com touting a new tax in Alabama: the fat tax. It’s not as literal as it sounds. The Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board has approved a plan which requires state workers to pay up if they don’t utilize [...]

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How Much Does it Cost to Keep America Healthy?

30 September 2008

Wednesday will not be just any day. It is the day that I take my four year old daughter to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she will see a pediatric cardiologist. If all goes well, and I am hopeful that it does, they will tell us that she has an “innocent murmur” and send us [...]

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Ask the taxgirl: Paying someone else’s health care expenses

12 May 2008

Taxpayer asks: Hi TaxGirl. I’ve searched all over the Internet and the IRS.gov website and I can’t find an answer to my question, so I’m hoping you can answer it: My sisters don’t currently have healthcare insurance, so my mom is helping them with some of their healthcare bills and expenses. My understanding is that [...]

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Ask the Taxgirl: Health Insurance Premiums

22 March 2008

Taxpayer asks: Last year, I lost my job. I haven’t found a full time job yet so I have been paying for my health insurance out of pocket by COBRA. Is this deductible on my taxes? A friend told me that it was but I thought only visits to the doctor and prescriptions were. Thanks [...]

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