Health-care tax credits to aid 50,000 in 3 counties

Those affected from Lucas, Wood, Fulton

3/29/2013

Almost 50,000 Ohioans in Fulton, Lucas, and Wood counties will be eligible for health-care tax credits when the Affordable Care Act rolls out in 2014.

Across Ohio, some 916,000 citizens will qualify for tax credits that will offset health-care premiums, Families USA stated in a report released Thursday.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization found that families of four that earn between between $47,100 and $94,200 will be eligible for credits, and individuals earning up to $46,000 also would qualify.

“We’re talking about thousands of dollars in tax credit subsidies, and this will be helpful to people and enable them to afford health-care coverage,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, which works at local, state, and federal levels to achieve affordable health care.

Families USA released the report during a conference call on Thursday.

Toledoan Robin Deters spoke during the call and said she and her husband now will pay $150 a month for health care — something that seemed impossible when her husband was in an accident. The couple has been uninsured for 17 years and lost their home and business.

Mrs. Deters and her husband have opted for a silver plan, which covers up to 70 percent of health-care costs. The statistics released in Family USA’s report were based on a silver plan.

Cathy Levine, executive director of Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, said the tax credits will allow people to become insured and receive preventive coverage that will ward off diseases. The tax credits, which are paid to health insurance providers, will help slash premiums for low-income and middle-income people, she added.

“This reveals one of America’s best-kept secrets that for hard-working Ohioans who don’t have employer-based coverage and can’t afford health care, help is on the way,” Ms. Levine said.

Contact Kris Turner at: kturner@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.