Rachna Shah
Aug 15, 2017

The 'Tanning Tax'

In a recent article for Health Affairs, the effects of the 'tanning tax' were discussed. Tanning beds are considered to be the main cause of exposure to UV radiation, particularly in college aged women, which increases one's risk for skin cancers. The ACA's 'tanning tax' taxes "non-medical, UV light indoor tanning services" by 10 percent, which has largely resulted in increasing costs for the consumers. While the tax has not brought in as much revenue as expected, this is largely because the larger costs have dissuaded consumers from purchasing the service - particularly younger consumers, the ones most at risk for skin cancers from tanning services.

 

Do you support the Tanning Tax? Why or why not? Do you believe that other similar services should be taxed by the federal government?

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