Employer Assessment – $18 Million
Despite promises that the burden of health insurance would be taken
off the backs of small business owners, a quarterly tax payment for each FTE
continues to be imposed on businesses with more than four employees who do not
offer health insurance or who’s employees are on Medicaid. This tax equates to $18 million annually and
is supposed to be for the purpose of paying for the operation of Vermont Health
Connect (the health care exchange); yet the exchange was shut down in September
of 2014. NFIB has vigorously opposed this tax and called for its repeal when
the legislature repealed Catamount Health Plan.