Dumb questions about the Healthcare Bill

[hedgehog]

Is there a good site that explains the bill point by point?

My understanding is that my employer must buy insurance for me or face a fine/ make an extra payment to the government. Is this correct?

If my employer is paying for my insurance, who selects the plan, the employer or me?

My guess is that I would select the plan since the plan is portable.

[Politicub]

1. There isn't one bill yet

So that's why there's not a site explaining it.

I'm sure once something gets out of committee that it will be thoroughly dissected and we'll able to find whatever info we want about it.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I assume your employer chooses.

However, from what I've read, I believe all plans will have to meet certain minimum standards.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Here's a look at the House Dems' bill

If it ever makes it to the floor, of course.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090717/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul_glance

[nightrain]

4. It's not dumb, it's confusing. There's the HELP proposal from Kennedy and Dodd in the Senate

and a link to that is at

http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id37.html

The Senate is attempting to find some ways to pay for it yet. Still nothing definite about the bill as far as I know.


In the House, nothing is too defined yet. A link to the work in progress is at

http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id41.html


To answer your questions, yes, there is a proposal that the employer be mandated to buy insurance, depending on the size of the payroll/# of employees (It's all very fluid). However, the employer chooses the plan.

If you qualify for a public option, because employer doesn't have to provide insurance, you may qualify for a subsidy for the cost of the insurance depending on your income.

No one really knows what the "public option" is yet. It changes moment to moment virtually.

"Public option" doesn't necessarily mean anyone can enroll. Senate proposal said that only those without insurance, or those for whom the cost of insurance would be too great of a percentage of their income would be eligible to enroll. And it can cost an uninsursed person up to 12.5% of their income!

[sandnsea]

5. I outlined them

and added links to a more complete overview.

http://www.obama-mamas.com/health-care.html

[Peacetrain]

6. It is not a dumb question, it is a good question..they are

debating different bills in the house and senate.. the final bill is a ways off

[Massacure]

7. Here is a link to a 42 page PDF comparing the various heatlh care bills

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_sbs_full.pdf

[nightrain]

8. thank you. That's a good resource!

[BattyDem]

10. Thanks for the link!

:hi:

[BattyDem]

9. I know there are supposed to be premium subsidies for people who can't afford it, but ...

I wonder what the deductibles and co-pays are going to be. What about the cost of medication? Right now, there are people who have insurance, but don't go to the doctor because they can't afford the deductibles, co-pays and medication. How will these bills or the public option change that? :shrug:

The bills are focused on giving people health insurance, but that won't necessarily lead to health care if the out-of-pocket expenses remain high. :-(