HealthCare Bills at a Glance, side by side.......

[FrenchieCat]

If you don’t have insurance

About 46 million Americans—15 percent of the population—lack health insurance. The number of uninsured people ages 50 to 64 has grown 36 percent since 2000, to 7.1 million. Men and women in this group face higher premiums because they are older and usually have some health issues.

• House bill:

Anyone without health insurance must pay a fine -- 2.5 percent of income. People could purchase insurance through a health insurance exchange, where choices include competing private companies and a government option. Poor families’ premiums would be subsidized depending on income. Premiums for those over 60 could only be twice as high as those under 60. Both the House and Senate bill would cover about 94 percent of Americans.

• Senate bill:

People who don’t purchase coverage must pay a penalty of between $750 or 2 percent of income. People could purchase insurance through a health insurance exchange, where choices include private companies and a government option.

If you’re covered by Medicare

Some 44 million people—more than 11 percent of the population—are over age 65 and covered by Medicare.

• House bill:

The HHS Secretary would be authorized to negotiate drug prices. Costs of brand-name prescription drugs in the drug plan’s coverage gap—the doughnut hole—would be cut in half and the gap closes completely by 2019. The life of the Medicare trust fund is extended by five years. The bill aims to eliminate $170 billion in overpayments to Medicare Advantage programs, which currently make the cost of those plans 14 percent higher than traditional Medicare. It would provide $15 billion in payments to skilled nursing homes and rehabilitation centers; and provide Medicare coverage for doctors giving end-of-life counseling.

• Senate bill:

Prices in the brand-name prescription drug coverage gap are cut in half starting in 2014. Also, starting in 2010, the Medicare doughnut hole would start to be narrowed. The bill would extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by at least five years. It also would eliminate the overpayment, or subsidies, to Medicare Advantage programs; cut $15 billion in payments to skilled nursing homes and rehabilitation centers; and provide Medicare coverage for doctors giving end-of-life counseling.

If you’re insured by Medicaid

New plans would expand Medicaid by an estimated 11 million to 15 million people.

• House bill:

Medicaid expands. Families of four with income under $33,000 would be eligible. Families of four earning $88,000 would pay no more than 12 percent of their income for health insurance. Government subsidies would pay the rest.

• Senate bill:

Medicaid expands. Families of four with income under $29,326 (133 percent of poverty) would be eligible.

Financing the plan

• House bill:

Total cost: $1.05 trillion over 10 years. Individuals with income over $500,000 and families with incomes over $1 million would pay a 5.4 percent surtax. Costs would be financed by $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

• Senate bill:

Total cost: $871 billion over 10 years. Costs would be partially funded by about $420 billion in savings from future Medicare and Medicaid spending and $118 billion from Medicare Advantage. In addition, nearly $300 billion would come from new taxes and fees on health care insurers, clinical laboratories and manufacturers of health care devices. The payroll tax for Medicare would rise from 1.45 to 1.95 percent for those earning over $200,000 and a 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning salons. The Senate also proposes an independent Medicare Advisory Committee authorized to impose Medicare cuts directly.
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/reform_splash.html

[firedupdem]

1. Thanks Frenchie....

I like seeing the info all in one place.

Our insurance is crap and very expensive now since my husband works for a small company. I'm excited about the exchange...wish it could start Jan 1st!!

[Cha]

2. Thanks Frenchie!~

Priceless info..side by side.

And, another thing about posting it in the BOG is.. it can't get locked due to disruption.

[Diamonique]

3. Woo hoo! Thank you SO much for posting this!

It has really helped to clear the cobwebs in my brain about the bills.

[graywarrior]

4. Excellent post!

[Razoor]

5. have a question since I can see both bills side by side.

I am covered under my parents insurance due to where my dad works but dont have any insurance of my own. I wont get taxed will I since I personally dont have health insurance or will I be ok since I am covered under my parents health insurance which is blue cross/blue shield? this part has confused me. I dont really want to ask in GD too mean there.

[Cha]

6. I would not think so but

maybe someone else can chime in?

[SeattleGirl]

7. I can't say with absolute certainty, but it seems you would not be

taxed or penalized since you ARE insured under your parent's plan.

[FrenchieCat]

9. My understanding is if you are of the appropriate age to remain on your parents policy,

you have coverage and therefore cannot be penalized.

[rebel with a cause]

19. I believe your parents are allowed to carry you on their insurance

until you are 26 under the Senate (?) bill. I don't know how old you can be on your parents present insurance plan.

If someone had a child with special needs this would be different but I don't know.

[goclark]

8. This is excellent ~I have a question

I read someplace else that if a person (me) has Medicare and BC/BS Advantage, my premium will go up $168 per month under this plan.


I thought I read that those in the above situation will have a higher premium so that those that need to get Health Care can have it.


As much as that would take a big bite out of my resources, if it helps others by doing it I would not scream.

Just wondering will the millionaires be charged more too?

[FrenchieCat]

10. I don't know the answer to this question......

You may want to contact the AARP. They probably have the answer, and may respond.

[goclark]

16. Thanks! I'll call them today nt

[dcsmart]

11. great post...this is the info we need to engage

in reasonable conversations with our opponents and increase our own knowledge of the issues.

[BlueCaliDem]

12. Thank you so much, Frenchie. Have I mentioned you're wonderful?

Couldn't have asked for a better Democrat side-by-side in the trenches with us.

[FrenchieCat]

13. You are welcome.

Whatever way I can affect change for the sake of all of our future,
the better I feel.

My hubbie says that I'm obsessed, and have been this way since the 2000 elections.
Can't help it. As an immigrant, I expected big things from this country,
and 2000 showed me how many would allow it to be thrown away without a fight.
We can't let that happen again.

[Undercurrent]

14. Thanks so much for this post!

I've been thinking about this all evening. I just read Nate Silver's article "For Pelosi, Many Paths to 218", and this info coupled with his comments gave me a better overall perspective of where we are at, and how this may play out in the conference committee.

Nate's article is on the from page: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

[FrenchieCat]

15. I have a lot more questions,

but when one is dealing with two bills,
I think I have to wait for them.

[sandyj999]

17. Thanks Frenchie, much clearer now. n/t

[Cha]

18. Back to the top.

[Hutzpa]

20. Good job Cat Boss. n/t

[Cha]

21. Kick for relevancy..

[CTLawGuy]

22. but that has FACTS in it!

we can't have that!

[janx]

23. Thanks, Frenchie!

This is a good, comprehensive comparison.

[Fire1]

24. Thanks for this, Frenchie. Bookmarked. n/t

[Cha]

25. Thanks..this will helpful to have handy.