Tanning salons say they've already taken a hit from the economy. Now they fear the tan tax could singe their profits even more.
Kathryn Koch of Bay City rarely misses her indoor tanning appointment.
"I'm a pretty regular customer," she said.
The tan tax won't change her habit.
"I'm still going to tan -- probably not as much as I was, but I can't not tan," Koch said.
The little-known health care reform provision -- a 10 percent hike for lying under the UV ray -- has some tanning salon owners heated up.
Lynn Thompson owns Mirage Salon and Tanning on Midland street in Bay City. She believes taxing small business is one way of going out of business.
"We are paying our fair share," she said. "I don't think it's fair that we have to do any anymore. It's going to hurt small business."
To remain competitive in an already saturated market, Thompson hates to raise prices, but she says adjustments will have to be made.
"We will have to look at it and see if it's going to be worth it for us to continue to offer tanning," she said.
For Roger Meylan of Kawkawlin, the tax won't burn his pocketbook. He only tans a few times a year.
"I'm not thrilled about it, but 10 percent in the long run won't keep me from coming, no," he said.
The tanning tax is estimated to raise $2.7 billion over 10 years.
