Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Americans Worried Over Obamacare Seek Professional Tax Help
The Boston Globe: Worries About Health Care Law Leads Tax Filers To Seek Professional Help
Worries about how the Affordable Care Act may affect 2014 returns could drive more filers to spend hundreds of dollars to get professional help from accountants and preparation services, tax specialists said. The tax code changes tied to the federal health care law take effect this year. That has triggered television, radio, and newspaper ads suggesting that filers need to brace for complications and may need specialized tax help. (Fernandes, 2/26)
Fox News: H&R Block Analysis: Most Obamacare Customers Paying Back Portion Of Subsidies
ObamaCare customers who received health insurance subsidies last year are getting an unpleasant surprise this tax season -- with many finding they have to repay hundreds of dollars. An analysis by tax-preparer H&R Block found that to date, 52 percent of those who enrolled in Affordable Care Act coverage are paying back part of their premium tax credits. (2/25)
Kaiser Health News: For Many Middle-Class Taxpayers On Obamacare, It’s Payback Time
Roberta and Curtis Campbell typically look forward to tax time. Most years, they receive a refund – a little extra cash to pay off credit card bills. But this year the California couple got a shock: According to their tax preparer, they owe the IRS more than $6,000. (Gorman, 2/26)
The Charleston Gazette: GOP-backed Bill Would Make It Criminal To Enforce ACA In W. VA.
In another salvo against the federal Affordable Care Act, some Republicans in West Virginia’s House of Delegates want to make it a crime for state and federal officials to enforce the health-care law. Under the GOP-backed bill (HB2509), federal employees would face felony charges, while state workers would be arrested for a misdemeanor offense, if they try to administer any federal regulations under the Affordable Care Act. The legislation also declares the federal health-care law “invalid” in West Virginia. (Eyre, 2/25)
