FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2017
America’s Small Businesses Applaud Introduction of Legislation to Repeal the HIT
Representatives Noem & Sinema Call for End to the Health Insurance Tax
Washington, D.C. – The Stop The HIT Coalition today applauded the introduction of the Jobs and Premium Protection Act (H.R. 246), legislation to repeal the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) and help lower health insurance premiums for small businesses and hard working families.
“The Health Insurance Tax is coming back with a vengeance unless Congress acts now to stop it,” said Elena Tompkins, Executive Director of the Stop The HIT Coalition. “Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) are truly standing with America’s small businesses, and we applaud their bipartisan work to stop the HIT.”
“The HIT returns and will begin driving up premiums as early as February 1, 2017, as small businesses begin to renew their coverage, which is why we need Congress to act now to repeal this harmful tax,” said Tompkins. “America’s small business owners will be forced to choose between hiring employees or providing health benefits. We cannot stand for this.”
The legislation introduced by Representatives Noem and Sinema would fully repeal the Health Insurance Tax, which has resulted in skyrocketing health insurance costs disproportionately skewed to hurt small businesses and middle-income Americans.
According to a 2015 Small Business Health Care Survey, 95% of small business owners have seen their health plan premiums increase in recent years. Middle-income families will pay, on average, an additional $5,000 over 10 years because of the HIT. And since the cost and consequences of the HIT increase over time, these same groups are facing a bigger HIT every year.
Reps. Noem and Sinema were joined by more than 80 Republicans and Democrats who co-sponsored the bill.
“If Congress wants to get health care costs under control for hard working families and small businesses, the first step is to stop taxing their premiums. It’s time to repeal the HIT now, once and for all,” said Tompkins.
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Media Contact: media@stopthehit.com
About Stop The HIT: The Stop The HIT Coalition represents the nation’s small business owners, their employees and the self-employed who are actively working to repeal the Health Insurance Tax. Since the Coalition’s formation in 2011, it has grown to include more than 35 national organizations, representing millions of small business owners across the country.
Additional information may be found at www.stopthehit.com | Twitter: @StopTheHIT | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StopTheHIT | Blog: http://www.stopthehit.com/blog | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StopTheHIT.