Would Tax Incentives Be An Effective Way To Expand Health Coverage For Low-Income Children And Families?

Publication Date: July 2007

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Judith Solomon

Research Area: Banking and finance; Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

About half of the nation’s uninsured low-income families would not benefit at all from the proposed tax deduction because they do not owe federal income taxes.  In addition, uninsured families with moderate incomes would receive only modest tax benefits because they are in the 10 or 15 percent tax bracket. While the Administration has expressed willingness to replace its proposed tax deduction with a modest refundable tax credit, which would provide the same assistance to families at all income levels, such a credit still would be unlikely to make coverage in the individual market affordable for low-income families.