With a ban on federal funds for abortion and a proposed alternative to a public option dominating debate in the Senate, a national group representing insurers says a proposed premium tax also should be a focus of discussion.

America’s Health Insurance Plans, representing 1,300 member insurers nationwide, is calling attention to a proposed $6.7 billion annual premium tax included in the Senate’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

If one of the goals of the Senate is to make health coverage more affordable, AHIP says the proposed tax will actually have the opposite effect, raising costs for families and employers.

“The new premium tax bends the cost curve in the wrong direction by making health care more expensive for families and employers across the country,” AHIP said in a statement. “This new tax will cause an immediate disruption for policyholders because it goes into effect next year – after contracts have already been negotiated, rates have been set, and individuals have enrolled in their plans. “

Rather than implement the tax, AHIP suggests that legislators focus on system-wide reforms to address the cost of medical care, what it calls “the key driver of rising health care costs.

“Without real and effective measures to bend the cost curve, families and employers will not be able to afford coverage and health care costs will continue to rise at a rate much faster than the overall economy is able to sustain,” the organization said.

In addition to increased premiums for families and small businesses and the disruption in 2010 service, AHIP said the premium tax will “create an unsustainable burden on health plans.”

The proposed tax will be levied in addition to “stabilization” fees of $25 billion in 2013, 2014 and 2015, AHIP said. The new tax also is non-deductible and layered on top of state and federal taxes paid by health plans, including premium taxes, assessments to support high-risk pools and employment taxes.