Married Couples Pay More Than Unmarried Under Health Bill

Wall Street Journal: “. . . The built-in ‘marriage penalty’ in both House and Senate healthcare bills has received scant attention. But for scores of low-income and middle-income couples, it could mean a hike of $2,000 or more in annual insurance premiums the moment they say ‘I do.’ The disparity comes about in part because subsidies for purchasing health insurance under the plan from congressional Democrats are pegged to federal poverty guidelines . . . Republicans say the effect on married couples whose combined income makes them ineligible for subsidies is even greater — up to $5,000 or more . . . “