News Item

Coalition Urges House and Senate Leadership to Prioritize HIT Relief Legislation in Tax Extenders Package

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, DC– Ahead of pending deadlines for initial 2020 premium and rate reviews, members of the Stop The HIT Coalition, including leading organizations representing independent employee advocacy groups, industry trades and business policy organizations called on Congress to urgently suspend the regressive Health Insurance Tax (HIT) before the cost is added to premiums in the next several weeks. Coalition members called for a two-year suspension of the tax from 2020 – 2021 that would provide families nearly $1,000 in savings on premium costs.

In the letter, Coalition members called on Congress to include HIT suspension in the upcoming tax extenders package or earliest legislative priority:

“With small businesses facing the start of coverage renewals for the upcoming year, it’s critical that Congress prioritize HIT suspension as part of the current tax extenders package or other must-pass legislation. This is the essential window for Congressional action before the tax will be factored into premium rate review beginning in the next several weeks.

For families bearing the brunt of this tax – those making between $10,000 – $50,000– this cost-savings goes a measurable way in providing relief at the time they need it most.

There is broad support for HIT relief across the country and on Capitol Hill. A recent national poll conducted by Morning Consult found that a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents oppose the HIT and the added costs to consumers’ insurance premiums.

Since 2013, HIT relief legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis and has been signed into law by both President Obama and President Trump. We are encouraged by the continued bipartisan support from leaders in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with the introduction of HIT suspension legislation, including the efforts from Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tim Scott (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Doug Jones (D-AL) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) as well as Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Kenny Marchant (R-TX). We urge you to advance S. 172 and H.R. 1398 and extend HIT relief through 2021.”

To view a full copy of the letter click here and to learn more about the impact of the Health Insurance Tax click here.

-30-

Media Contact: edixon@reservoircg.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