Starting July 1, using indoor tanning beds to darken your skin could lighten your wallet.

If signed into law, the $871 billion HR 3590, or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would impose a 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services using ultraviolet lamps to induce skin tanning.

The tax is projected to raise $2.7 billion over 10 years in order to offset the cost of providing health insurance to millions more Americans.
Maran Irwin, a sophomore from Ocilla, uses the tanning bed at Silver Sun Tan USA on Alps Road about once a week, though she used to tan three times a week.

If passed into law, a new excise tax could increase costs for indoor tanning salons — and their customers. Photo illustration by: Daniel Shirey

“I cut back because I try to be more conscious of skin cancer,” she said.

If Silver Sun Tan raises prices in July because of the tax, Irwin said she would probably go less

often.

“I don’t feel like having to pay for a tax for something like tanning,” she said. “It’s scary because me going to the tanning bed doesn’t affect anybody else’s health. I don’t see why I have to pay for someone else’s.”

Marilin Goff, a junior from Cumming, also disagrees with the tax.

“I don’t think tanning is their business to tax,” she said. “I don’t use the tanning bed often enough to warrant paying a lot more.”

Eryn Zaworski, manager of Solar Image Tanning, said the tax is unfair for women.

“It will hurt more than help,” she said. “It will definitely decrease consumers in the industry.”

Some tanning salons might be able to absorb the tax so consumers will not be charged more, but Zaworski said this might not be the case for Solar Image Tanning.

“Our owner owns this one and another, so the tax will be passed on [to customers],” she said. “It will definitely have a negative effect.”

Bobby Andres, president of the University’s Young Democrats, said the tanning tax is similar to proposed “sin taxes” on soda.

“It’s included because of the risk of cancer,” he said.

Andres also said the debate about the tax may be moot.

“The likelihood of the bill passing decreased significantly with [last week’s special election in Massachusetts],” he said.

Last week, Massachusetts voters elected a Republican to fill Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat.

Sen. Kennedy, a Democrat and major supporter of a health care overhaul, died of brain cancer on Aug. 25.

With Republican Scott Brown in the Senate, the Democrats have lost their filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority.

John Overstreet, the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Indoor Tanning Association, said this tax is an example of what is wrong in Washington.

“It’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of,” he said. “And they call this responsible legislation and tax policy? It’s crazy.”

Overstreet said the tanning tax is a replacement for the “Botax,” a five percent tax on elective cosmetic procedures originally included in the bill but lobbied against by doctors and industry groups.

“Rich doctors and rich patients had a vested interest in this,” Overstreet said. “The tanning tax throws small businesses, working people and college kids under the bus.”

Overstreet said that tanning salons would probably pass the tax on to consumers.

“The price might increase by $5 or $6 on individual sessions,” he said.

Individual sessions at Silver Sun Tan range from $3 to $30.

Because consumers often use disposable income to tan, Overstreet said people will be less inclined to spend more money on tanning, which will hurt small businesses.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., does not support the tanning tax either.

“Sen. Isakson does not support the tanning tax as a pay-for for health care reform or as a stand-alone policy,” Sheridan Watson, the senator’s press secretary, told The Red & Black. “He believes it inequitably singles out a specific industry, mostly small businesses, and will inevitably be passed on to consumers.”

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., isn’t a proponent of using tanning beds, but he doesn’t support the tax.

“While I … believe it is an unhealthy habit, I am not supportive of raising taxes on the backs of hardworking Americans to pay for this health care bill,” Chambliss told The Red & Black.

“I believe the American people would benefit greatly from senators on both sides of the aisle going back to the drawing board and coming up with real, meaningful health care reform that utilizes tax breaks and tax credits, preventative care and competition to bring down health care costs,” he said.

The Exchange at Athens will not charge residents extra to use its tanning bed, said Brad Baker, the assistant property manager.

“We have it as a service,” he said. “It’s included in the rent, but we’re not going to tax the rent or charge the resident in any way.”