Health Care Bill Would Make Domestic Partner Benefits Tax Free
Ok. So, today I was listening to Obama's speach on CSPAN outlining the health care reform bill that was finalized. As I was listening, it dawned upon me...wouldn't it be nice if the bill provided domestic partnership for all? Well, obviously this will never happen. So, then I thought to google this health reform bill and domestic partnership to see how it affects me and my family (if at all). To my surprise it does! Here's what I found....
Health Care Bill Would Make Domestic Partner Benefits Tax Free:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14048/health-care-bill-would-make-domestic-partner-benefits-tax-free
Then I went on HRC's website and searched there and found...What is the Current Status of the Bill? "The provisions of this bill were included in the House passed health reform bill, H.R. 3962."Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act (last updated Feb 26, 2010)
http://www.hrc.org/issues/marriage/5671.htm
The H..R. 3962 bill is Obama's health care reform...the very same one I was just listening him refer to in his speech.This is huge for us gay couples. Here's why...WIKIPEDIA also says this bill was incorporated into the health reform bill:"inclusion of language originally proposed in the Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act[13][14]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordable_Health_Care_for_America_Act
Visit the websites above - especially HRC for more information.
UPDATE:
September 13, 2010.
As far as I can tell, this legislation was never passed and NOT included in the health care reform bill. I knew this a while ago, but wanted to update this post. It is my guess - that in the interest of passing the health care reform bill, the Democrats had to remove some provisions from the bill, and this tax free law was one of them. This needs further research. Unfortunately, HRC hasn't updated their page.
Oh, also found this today. Go Google! I hope other employers like UnitedHealthcare Group does this, too!
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-07-08/business/21942002_1_domestic-partners-partner-health-benefits-spouses-and-dependents
The article states:
"Several bills would have eliminated the tax; none has passed. A group called the Business Coalition for Benefits Tax equity is now lobbying Congress "to give equal taxation to any beneficiary an employer defines," says Daryl Herrschaft of the Human Rights Campaign."
Health Care Bill Would Make Domestic Partner Benefits Tax Free:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14048/health-care-bill-would-make-domestic-partner-benefits-tax-free
Then I went on HRC's website and searched there and found...What is the Current Status of the Bill? "The provisions of this bill were included in the House passed health reform bill, H.R. 3962."Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act (last updated Feb 26, 2010)
http://www.hrc.org/issues/marriage/5671.htm
The H..R. 3962 bill is Obama's health care reform...the very same one I was just listening him refer to in his speech.This is huge for us gay couples. Here's why...WIKIPEDIA also says this bill was incorporated into the health reform bill:"inclusion of language originally proposed in the Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act[13][14]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordable_Health_Care_for_America_Act
Visit the websites above - especially HRC for more information.
UPDATE:
September 13, 2010.
As far as I can tell, this legislation was never passed and NOT included in the health care reform bill. I knew this a while ago, but wanted to update this post. It is my guess - that in the interest of passing the health care reform bill, the Democrats had to remove some provisions from the bill, and this tax free law was one of them. This needs further research. Unfortunately, HRC hasn't updated their page.
Oh, also found this today. Go Google! I hope other employers like UnitedHealthcare Group does this, too!
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-07-08/business/21942002_1_domestic-partners-partner-health-benefits-spouses-and-dependents
The article states:
"Several bills would have eliminated the tax; none has passed. A group called the Business Coalition for Benefits Tax equity is now lobbying Congress "to give equal taxation to any beneficiary an employer defines," says Daryl Herrschaft of the Human Rights Campaign."
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