Editor:
There are few things more important than access to affordable health care. I think about that often as a Tucson senior on a fixed income.
That’s why I’m concerned about the health insurance tax, or “HIT.” Unless Congress takes action, this tax may add hundreds of dollars in expenses for the 500,000 Arizonans who, like me, are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
My concerns with rising health care costs as a result of the HIT are backed up by a federal study recently reported in the Wall Street Journal. It’s clearly more urgent now than ever for Congress to delay the tax.
Nearly half of all Medicare Advantage members live on less than $24,000 per year, so any cost increase could be devastating. I thank U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally for co-sponsoring the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act. This would suspend the tax for two years, but it’s important Congress vote before the end of 2019.
Elected officials talk about supporting seniors. Voting yes on the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act is one way they can prove it.
Jon Stetson
Tucson