Marriage Penalty for Health Care

The Heartland Institute reports that a penalty included in both the House and Senate health care bills could result in premium increases to low and middle income married couples of up to $2,000.

Those couples whose combined income exceeds 400 percent of the federal poverty level will receive limited subsidies and have no caps on their insurance premiums – the same penalty will not apply to individuals.  The penalty would affect those who would purchase insurance through new exchanges created in the bills, an estimated 17 million people, and possibly millions more as more businesses shift to government exchanges to reduce costs.  No penalty applies to unmarried couples living together.

These types of discriminatory penalties, although deeply hidden in dense health care legislation, could have long-term adverse effects on the future of marriage, family, and society.