White House, unions agree on health insurance tax

The White House and labor unions reached tentative agreement on Thursday on a tax on high-cost "Cadillac" healthcare plans, clearing the way for union support for a sweeping healthcare reform bill. The deal settles a major issue as Democrats try to merge healthcare bills passed by the Senate and House of Representatives. Here are details of the agreement based on information provided in a telephone conference with labor union officials: * The agreement aims to ensure that middle-class workers are not hit by a 40 percent tax on high-cost health plans. * The effective date for the tax is 2013 and it would kick in at $24,000 for family plans and at $8,900 for individuals -- up from $23,000 for families and $8,500 for individuals in the Senate-passed plan.