[pantherskincreek]

Hmmmm....if this comes to pass, shouldn’t we have the option of voluntarily electing to forfeit our now taxed employer provided health insurance.....and go get it free like all the non-producers?

Actually, seems those getting free health care should be taxed for its value....

[anniegetyourgun]

Employers will stop offering group plans - why should they when they can shift that cost to the government/taxpayer.

[Myrddin]

My employer contributes $8,000 annually for my group health care insurance. I contribute another $5300. I'm not getting it for free. Another $1200 gets tossed into a "FlexSpend" account to deal with expenses not covered by the insurance. The dentist charges more than the "reasonable and customary" fees for some items. LensCrafters isn't on the vendor list for VisionAmerica, so I end up paying for glasses out of the flex spend account. In addition to my contribution, the "plan" has a $1500 per person per year initial co-pay. By the time I've paid that "co-pay", I've paid more than the company contributed. Now, bone head Baucus wants to stick me with another $3,200 in expenses that does nothing for my health care, but lines the pockets of the thieves in Washington.