Republicans hope to repeal Obamacare. One plan getting attention is creating a health insurance federal income tax deduction of $7,500 per individual and $20,500 for family. Everyone will be free to use their tax credit to buy the health insurance of their choice, not just the plan their employer provides.

A derivative plan recommends a refundable health insurance tax credit that is based on age, rather than income since 40% of people don’t pay any federal income tax. Money left could be put into a health savings account. HSA eligibility would be extended beyond age 65 (an idea Employee Benefit Advisors really likes).

Policy proposals would eliminate or cap the employer tax exclusion for health insurance. This would decimate the employer-based system, where a majority of Americans, roughly 169 million, receive their insurance coverage.

The employer exclusion allows an employer’s contributions to an employee’s health insurance to be excluded from that employee’s compensation for income and payroll tax purposes. The result has been a highly efficient means of providing affordable coverage through group purchasing and its economies of scale by spreading risk and avoiding adverse selection.

Proponents contend that eliminating the exclusion would result in Americans having more control over their coverage, reduce job-lock, and result in greater transparency and reduced costs.