Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Kenny Marchant (R-TX) have introduced H.R. 1398, the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act. This bill would stop the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Tax (HIT) from going into effect until after 2021 and save consumers hundreds of dollars. According to America’s Health Insurance Plans, the HIT could increase premiums by over $470 per family in 2020 if not stopped. The tax would also hit seniors and those with disabilities particularly hard.

“Failing to pass this bill, which would ensure the Health Insurance Tax is delayed for another two years, would cause millions of American families to see higher health insurance premiums,” said Bera. “In a time of rising premiums and health care costs, preventing the health insurance tax from adding to those costs is necessary as we work to stabilize the insurance markets and lower health care costs. We should pass this bill today.”

"When it comes to taxes, the people of New Jersey have had more than enough. They want and deserve lower taxes — and they want lower health care costs, said Gottheimer. “That’s why I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Health Insurance Tax Relief Act, which stops a tax on health care premium in its tracks. I will keep working across the aisle to protect our health care and deliver commonsense tax cuts for Fifth District families.”

“When it comes to health care, Americans are facing rising costs and fewer options,” said Walorski. “Raising taxes on health coverage would only make matters worse for families, small businesses, and Medicare Advantage enrollees. As we continue working to lower premiums for families and seniors, we need to pass this bipartisan bill to provide relief from the burdensome Health Insurance Tax.”

“At a time when healthcare markets are beginning to stabilize, the last thing my constituents need is a tax driving their costs back up,” said Marchant. “The Health Insurance Tax (HIT) would do just that, and as much as I would like to see it repealed outright, this bill is a step in the right direction by delaying the tax from going into effect.”

NFDA remains an active member of the Stop The HIT Coalition, which represents small business owners, their employees and the self-employed. The coalition issued the following statement following introduction of the Health Insurance Premium Reduction Act: “For America’s small businesses that continue to represent the very core of our economic growth and diversity, this bipartisan legislation provides much-needed stability and security against the threat of unsustainable health care costs. By suspending the health insurance tax, the Health Insurance Premium Reduction Act would save millions of American families nearly $1,000 in health insurance premium costs over the next two years. With many small businesses facing coverage renewal notices in the coming weeks, it’s is imperative that Congress take immediate steps to suspend the health insurance tax before families bear the brunt of its exorbitant cost … We thank U.S. Representatives Bera, Walorski, Gottheimer and Marchant for their bipartisan leadership and support and urge Congress to move quickly to vote on this bill and protect America’s small businesses from the return of the health insurance tax in 2020.”