Preventative Health-Related Life-style Taxes
December 9, 2010
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Effective July 1, 2010 there is a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning, coming to about $1.70 per tanning session.
The tax is predicted to amount to $2.7 billion over 10 years, money that is allotted toward funding the $940 billion healthcare overhaul passed this past Christmas Eve.
The levy on indoor tanning was placed in the Health care bill last minute in place of a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery - dubbed the “Bo-Tax” to be placed on elective surgical procedures such as breast augmentation and Botox injections.
After objections from Cosmetic Surgeons and Dermatologists, claiming that the procedures they performed were in no way harmful, they should not be penalized; the “Bo-Tax” was swapped for tanning bed use.
The tanning industry was an easier target. The US Dept of Health & Human Services and the World Health Organization have both declared UV radiation exposure of any form on par with tobacco smoke and asbestos for cancer causal. And studies have shown that indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing Melanoma by 75 percent.
The tanning industry has countered with arguments that Melanoma is caused by sun burn, that the practice of maintaining a base tan can actually prevent Melanoma. They also tout the benefits of Vitamin D, produced when the skin is exposed to UV rays, which has been noted to help prevent breast, prostate and colon cancers in addition to other diseases.
If the healthcare debate peaks your interest and you are considering a career change to the industry, check out Sanford-Brown’s healthcare education options here: http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/Areas-Of-Study
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