Federal tax law discriminates against same-sex couples when it comes to health coverage, and I’ve been asked whether the current push for health care reform will fix that. No one can say for sure, but it doesn’t seem likely. That’s based on reporter Chris Johnson’s conversation with official House lesbian Tammy Baldwin:
Two of the major LGBT provisions in the House version of the health care reform would eliminate the tax on health benefits received under employer plans and allow states to cover low-income people with HIV before they develop AIDS. Other language would provide for non-discrimination in health care and allow the federal government to collect health data on the LGBT population.
But these provisions are lacking in the Senate version of health care reform. For them to be part of the final legislation, they would have to be included in the reconciliation package the House is expected to vote on this week.
Asked whether the domestic partner tax penalty elimination or the early treatment for HIV provision were among those that couldn’t be part of the reconciliation package, Baldwin said, “My understanding is no. But until I see it, I won’t know for sure.”
Gotta keep America safe for Christianity. This is why I am resisting pressure from my biological family and NOT calling or writing my Representative to pass this bill!
As I work now on the health and welfare side of the insurance industry now (formerly a property and casualty insurance agent), I am amazed that some many gay and lesbian folks have never heard of or question imputed income (which is the amount a company pays for your partner to be on your insurance that it subsidies and you have to report it during tax time, gays and lesbians to pay more in taxes). Am I the only one that understands that the healthcare reform debate is directly tied to marriage equality for gays and lesbians?