Jul 28, 2009 6:31 pm US/Eastern
Senate Eyes Taxing Botox To Pay For Obamacare
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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President Barack Obama (file)
CBS
In casting about for ways to pay for President Obama's health care plan, some Senators are looking at taxing cosmetic surgery procedures like liposuction, nose jobs, and those ever-popular wrinkle-filling injections.
As anyone who's ever had work done to improve their looks knows, the IRS does not consider such procedures necessary for good health, so good luck trying to write them off your taxes.
Some in the government are saying that policy should be the basis for a specialized set of new taxes, targeting elective cosmetic procedures not covered by health insurance.
"i think they should because they're doing it for aesthetic purposes. It's not necessary for me to have a face lift," said Bronx resident Milagros Garcia.
"I think that's crazy. I think it's a choice for people to do that if they want to. I don't think you need to tax it," said Steve Erickson, Upper West Side resident.
The tax would hit the most popular of such procedures: nose jobs, liposuction, breast enlargements, tummy tucks, teeth whitening, botox and other wrinkle-filling injections.
But it would reportedly not levy a tax on procedures which correct a birth deformity, an injury, or a disfiguring disease.
Reconstructive surgery due to cancer and laser eye surgery are expected to be exempt from the tax as well.
On the surface, it's another tax on the wealthy. Not so fast, says one plastic surgeon. "When you look at who is getting cosmetic surgery, it's not just rich, fancy Park Ave. people. It's everybody. Middle class, upper middle class, even low income patients are having cosmetic surgery," said Dr. Steven Pearlman.
Pearlman said such a tax is simply unfair. "Having a luxury tax on cosmetic surgery also is discriminatory, 84 percent of people who have plastic surgery are women."
Bottom line, if you're planning on getting some work done to look good, you might want to do it soon. Before the tax man takes his cut.
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