How on earth does taxing primo health plan constitute reform? All the carriers will do is pass that cost on to the policy holder. You know who has primo plans besides Goldman Sachs? Teachers, I know because my wife is a public school teacher in Wisconsin, most state employees and many Union members. These people are going to take that hit?

I guess the only way to avoid the hit is to get a crappy private policy. That is reform? I guess my conservative friends are right, libs are only happy if everyone is equally miserable.

You do remember that during the 2008 Presidential campaign, John McCain (and many Republicans) supported taxing ALL employer sponsored health plans, right? In a very stupid move, Obama attacked McCain numerous times on this issue, painting himself into a corner in the process.

This was one of the primary goals of the HSA legislation from the early 2000's. The goal was to break up employer sponsored group plans through changes in tax policy, to encourage individuals to get their own policies. In theory, this would reintroduce market forces in to the health system and reduce costs.

If you followed any of the conservative thinktanks and publications from around 2002 on, it was clear that the GOP's goal was to gradually do away with group plans (through new taxes on employer plans and credits for individual policies), and gradually replace PPO/HMO's with HDHP/HSA plans.

It constitutes reform because there's no way people should be getting tax deductions for luxury policies when a lot of people (the ones who can't afford insurance) get no tax break at all. Do you have actual information on the cost of your wife's policy, or are you just whining to be whining? With my last employer I had a pretty good policy (took the high-end PPO option) and when I was laid of the cost to me through COBRA was less than half of the proposed minimum for "cadillac" status. I doubt you have anything to whine about. And if you do, it will only be losing the tax deduction on whatever small amount is over the limit.

jj64 its not just the cost to you. its the total cost to you and your employer. An 8K plan is a lot cheaper than a typical employer provided plan. It is not a cadillac plan by any means. If you pay 100 bucks a month, it is most certain your employer is paying another 500 or more.