ACS's Cancer Action Network joins Alliance to Fight the 40.
+ Regulatory
Jamie Barrand | Nov 17, 2015

ACS's Cancer Action Network joins Alliance to Fight the 40

The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has joined the Alliance to Fight to 40, a group dedicated to seeing a recently imposed 40 percent tax on employee health care benefits repealed.

Known as the "Cadillac Tax," the tax, which is set to take effect in 2018, would be added to costs of employer-sponsored health coverage.

The coverage provided would exceed specific benefit thresholds -- $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage.

The Alliance to Fight the 40 now includes more than 30 member oganizations from both the public and private sectors. Those members are a broad mix of employer organizations, unions, health care companies, businesses and other groups.

“We’re thrilled to welcome ACS CAN to the alliance," American Benefits Council President James Klein said. "This continues the momentum to repeal the tax that threatens health coverage for over 175 million Americans.”

ACS CAN President Chris Hansen said the 40 percent tax would "threaten patient access to lifesaving care."

“Studies have shown that access to health care increases one’s chances of surviving cancer," Hansen said.

Klein gave Congress the benefit of the doubt, saying the tax could not have been intended "to penalize families who are wrestling with life-threatening health conditions by compelling employers to cut-back on vital coverage to avoid a confiscatory tax."

Many members of Congress are rallying to get the tax measure repealed; to date, 267 co-sponsors in the House and 30 in the Senate have signed on to legislation to nix the tax.

“It is imperative that Congress move quickly on this legislation," Klein said. "It is unconscionable that Congress wants to tax plans that are more expensive simply because they do what health insurance is intended to do -- protect people against the financial devastation of serious illness.”

More information about the coalition is available online at www.fightthe40.com

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