Just before Christmas, the US Senate amended the healthcare reform bill (H.R. 3590) by dropping the proposed 5% tax on elective plastic-surgery procedures like Botox and replacing it with a 10% tax on indoor tanning. The tax, aka Tan Tax, will be effective July 1, 2010 and will only apply to tanning beds that deliver UV radiation, not spray tans.
“This proposed tax is a master stroke, akin to the sin tax on cigarettes; both tanning and smoking are activities scientifically proven to cause harm to the human body,” said Bruce E. Katz, MD, educational spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation. “The tax will hopefully serve a double purpose, not only raising billions for health care, but giving people one more excellent reason to protect their health by staying away from tanning salons.”
I have never been a fan of tanning beds so I’m indifferent to the amendment. But for those who do, will this really stop you? Share your thoughts!
2 Comments
Wow, fascinating. I’ve never gone tanning but I think this is a great idea since it’s so harmful to the body. I’m all for it. ^^
Um… Even though I’m not a tanning bed user as well, I just find the US government is really desperate for money… I don’t really like the idea of slapping taxes on random things though… I just fear it’s the beginning of many more to come(and there’re already a lot!)