How much more can I expect to pay in taxes if a universal health program is put into place?

Question

With the 2008 presidential elections on the horizon I have noticed that many of the Democrats are discupushing for health care reform (something that is needed).What they fail to mention is who will be paying for it and how much it will raise my taxes. So I am wondering if raise our taxes to the heights of Canada and Europe putting us (working & middle class) close to a 50% bracket. Any thoughts would be appreciated (especially from the candidates).

Answer 1

There are too many economics experts out there and I will not pretend to have to most accurate answer.

But the money for universal health care must come from somewhere. Sure, if we had no troops outside the US and cut back the military to a skeleton force there would be more money for it. But the nations that have socialized medicine and a small military are taxed at a high rate, so why would not our taxes go up?

My sister is a doctor and wants health care reform, but she is leary of plans from Democrats (especially Hillary Clinton). Even though her plan for health care when Hillary's husband was president did not go through Congress, my sister maintains that what was passed did enough damage. That doctor questions why lawyers (Hillary Clinton and John Edwards) are considered experts of fixing health care; she refers to them as ambulance chasers.

Aside from cost to taxpayers, what about the quality of medical care. Sure people are crossing over to Canada for cheaper prescription drugs, but Canadians are going south for better doctors. Have you heard of the Canadian woman, over a 100 years of age, was placed on a 5 year waiting list for a new hearing aid. If you want cheap health care, remember that you get want you pay for.

Answer 2

Taxes would go up on the richest the most and increase less for the lower classes. I am not really sure how much the increase would be but under a system like this it would look like the poor are paying much more than they actually are. Why should the rich pay more in taxes? Well mostly because they make their money off of the sweat of those below them. Of course, if we withdrew from Iraq and paid down the national debt it would take a while but the government would have a lot more money to spend on, well, the government. What IS the annual interest cost on 9 trillion dollars these days anyways?

Answer 3

With excise, fed, local, state, property, sales, social sec, unemployment, etc taxes, you're already in the 50% tax bracket - you just don't know it.

How much tax do you pay per gallon of gas? I didn't think you knew.

Expect the Dems to lie or evade on this point. After all, it's not too popular to say, vote for me, get a big tax increase. So they lie, like Clinton in 92 - remember the middle class tax cut that turned into a middle class tax increase a few months later (and after he criticized bush 41 during the election - who had only promised NOT to raise taxes (one strike), not to cut taxes too (which would be two strikes)).

Mem said - "Taxes would go up on the richest the most and increase less for the lower classes"

We don't tax welath, and we don't tax class, either, so totally wrong.

Answer 4

One, this is arguable if the purposed well-being care bill will bypass, yet while it does, for the reason that this is a run by using the left to transform usa right into a socialist society, i'm confident there'll be some type of penalty for those that are over Weight, who smoke or drink (tax already in place for those, yet will circulate up much extra) will or no longer it incredibly is an extra tax or re-coaching camps is the extra suited question although.

Answer 5

You can expect to pay what Europe does, if not more. People keep forgetting that America has a higher population. Even worse, American has a higher population of entitlement driven, under-educated, unemployed that the rest of us will have to foot the bills for. Simple division tells us that if you have 100 people who want healthcare, and only 50 are contributing, the other 50 pay twice as much. One only needs to look at the fraud rampant in the welfare system and how much of a drain social security is to understand the catastrophe that would ensue.

No matter how much the current candidates try to sugar coat it, it's still going to cost just as much (if not more) under their new plans than it will to just suck it up and buy your own policy already.

Answer 6

The average U.S.citizen already pays 50% in taxes if you count ALL taxes. Federal, state local property, sales, etc.
And don't forget the taxes on Corporations which are hidden in the cost of EVERYTHING you buy.
The health care plan will add an incease of 12% to 20% depending on who's figures you believe.

Answer 7

I will tell you who will pay for it every legal working American will pay for it. That also means taxes will go way up $5.00 per gallon of gas $5.00 per gallon of milk. Get my drifted. Just think what if you never use the health insurance and you end up paying all that money into it. That money could of went to buy new car/house clothing/food for you/kids.

Answer 8

It depends on the plan and how it is constructed. It might cost less than you are paying for health insurance now.

Answer 9

Depends on how much we keep sending to our bloated and wasteful military budget - which DWARFS what every other country on the planet spends... COMBINED.

The most powerful country the Earth has ever known can EASILY pay for universal healthcare for all of its citizens - It's just a matter of priorities.

Some people want to help themselves and their fellow man - others want to help themselves and could care less about their fellow man.

Answer 10

Assuming costs don't skyrocket, which they're likely to.. something like $2000 - $3000 more a year per taxpayer.