The Trump administration just imposed a massive tax increase. You may have missed it.

[workinclasszero]

The Trump administration just imposed a massive tax increase. You may have missed it.
By Andy Slavitt May 26

This week the Trump administration managed to impose a massive tax increase on middle-income families beginning in 2018. You could be excused for missing this story if you were focusing instead on President Trump’s draconian budget or Republican efforts to take away health care from tens of millions of people. But, indeed, on Monday, the Trump Health Care Tax was born.

The new tax, 19 percent or more of premiums, will be added on top of the cost of policies purchased through the individual-market health insurance exchanges. It is a result of Trump’s decision to create as much chaos as possible in the health-care market — in this case by not committing to continue to reimburse billions of dollars of cost-sharing payments owed to insurers just as they set prices for next year.

And the president couldn’t have been more clear about why he’s imposing this tax: He thinks disrupting the Affordable Care Act exchanges, which serve more than 12 million Americans, will force Democrats to agree to proposals in his budget and in the House health-care bill that would take coverage away from tens of millions.

There is something even more troubling about this tax. In an unusual twist, it will not be paid to the government but to insurance companies.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-administration-just-imposed-a-massive-tax-increase-you-may-have-missed-it/2017/05/26/ce7eb6e8-4152-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I thought the only branch of government allowed to impose taxes was the legisltative branch.

Can this tax be challenged in court? Seems to me this is in violation of executing the existing statutes and the Constitution.

[workinclasszero]

2. It looks like a tax imposed by inaction

Failure by Trump to live up to our agreed upon actions under Obama.

Nobody voted on it so the republicans/Trump/Fox news/hate radio will all blame it on 'failing' Obamacare.

This is how government runs under a criminal syndicate with no morals I guess.

[former9thward]

11. It is not a tax. The headline is misleading.

Congress filed a suit about the payment of subsidies to Obamacare. A federal court ruled in the favor of Congress. The Obama administration appealed the case. The Trump administration is still deciding whether to continue the appeal. The article is speculating the cost of Obamacare premiums will go up in the range of 18% as insurance companies factor in the cost of possibly losing the payments. So there is no "tax". It it a rise in the cost of premiums which may or may not occur.

[Ms. Toad]

13. It's not a tax.

It is an opinion writer applying creative license to describe the anticipated premium increase as a tax.

You are correct, but that is irrelevant, becasue what is being called a tax is not one.

[heaven05]

3. Rich people richer.....

poor people poorer and without safety net health insurance. Small consolation is despicable deplorables, MANY who are on Medicaid and receive food stamp assistance will be hurt in large numbers....

[workinclasszero]

4. Yep

I despise these rich republicans with paid for life free health care courtesy of our taxes by the finest doctors and hospitals that want the rest of us to die in misery and bankruptcy.

They can all rot in hades IMO.

[RKP5637]

5. Trump left out of his speech today that god has created a special place in hell for the GOP! n/t

[workinclasszero]

6. Hell is gonna need a bigger gate

When Trump and the present social safety net destroying republicans all die off!

[MedusaX]

7. Action through Inaction.....

This will be the same tactic he uses to allow sanctions to lift automatically...

[workinclasszero]

9. Yep so the republican fake news shills like

Fox and hate radio can blame everything on the democrats.

[Doreen]

8. At some point of this dictatorship

the poor will be living in crappy tents in a muddy field and the middle class will be living in run down rat infested apartment buildings. I suspected all along they were going to hike taxes on the poor and middle class. Do not think this will be the only tax hike on the poor and middle class.

[workinclasszero]

10. Oh hell no

Look at Trumps hellscape "A New Foundation for American Greatness" budget.

Its a nightmare for all but the very rich in this country. Dump spares no one including the suckers that voted him into office.

[Ms. Toad]

12. This is fake news. Please don't spread it.

the "tax" is simply an anticipated increase in premiums due to the chaos Trump is creating in teh health insurance market. It is not "added on top of the cost the policies purchased," is it an increase in price (imposed by the insurers) in the price they charge. The basis for the allegation that the tax will be paid to the insurance companies is because that is where premiums are paid (including any increase)

It is NOT a tax.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Oh, God. I don't have words for this cruelty the Republicans are imposing on the citizens.

No words.

But I guess it won't matter much to me, since I can't afford the premiums, without a subsidy, anyway, even without a 19% tax on top.

[keithbvadu2]

15. Trump sycophants are trying to say it is not a tax. It is imposed by the gov't. It is a tax no matte

Trump sycophants are trying to say it is not a tax. It is imposed by the gov't. It is a tax no matter what other name you may wish to also call it.

[Ms. Toad]

19. I'm not a trump syncophant,

I just abhor fake news, and believe it has no place in liberal politics.

This is NOT imposed by the government. It is a projected rate of increase in premium by the world insurance companies.

I have no problem with condemning Trump's actions that are designed to create uncertainty and destabilize
the market but that is not what this article does. It suggests that while we were distracted Trump somehow ordered a surcharge on top of premiums - which he can't legally do, and which he didn't do.

[Achilleaze]

16. but, on the bright side

republican billionaires will get another a big fat freakin tax cut.

[Mountain Mule]

17. This just in from Rural America!

I won't get into the tax/not a tax argument, but I can tell you first hand that the Trumpf and Republican created uncertainty in the healthcare market is already having a very adverse impact on rural America. Rural hospitals are closing all across Colorado and major insurers have fled my part of the country like lemmings to the sea. In effect, my county no longer has mental health care for low income individuals and people insured by medicaid have no access to any sort of health care except thru a single clinic administered from a town in the next county over. Almost all doctors who staff that clinic also live elsewhere and telecommute for a few patient visits out here maybe a couple of times a week. As always, it is those who are most vulnerable who are getting hit the hardest. While some may see the cost of health premiums go up, many are looking at low quality to no healthcare at all. That 23 million number is already starting to add up.

[Bengus81]

18. 19% added to my ACA premium is still a HELL of alot cheaper than his BS plan....n/t

[KewlKat]

20. kick