Health Care Proposal - Help!

[Steely_Dan]

Can someone direct me to a web site the outlines what Obama is trying to get passed regarding his health care program?

Thanks...

-P

[Laelth]

1. No ... because Obama hasn't said, explicitly, what he wants.

This pamphlet lays out particulars of the three bills circulating through Congress now.

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

Other summaries are available on DU.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Steely_Dan]

2. Thanks...

I appreciate the info. I need to catch up.

-P

[Eric J in MN]

3. Summary of the House bill

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/15/three_cheers_for_the_house_health_care_bill/

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•A public plan available through the insurance exchanges established under the proposal.

•Medicaid coverage up to 133% of federal poverty line , then progressive subsidies to buy insurance up to 400% of the poverty line.

•Employer requirements to provide insurance to employees or pay 8% of payroll in fees to government to provide health care (with lesser amounts for small businesses) -- a very progressive approach that will ease the costs for firms with lower-wage, less-skilled employees.

•Insurers would be required to issue coverage based on preexisting conditions or cannot charge more on that basis, while premiums could vary by a factor of no more than two based on age.

•Under the law, total out-of-pocket expenses for any family, including premiums and copays, would not exceed $5000 for an individual or $10,000 for a family. The plan apparently offers subsidies up to 400% of poverty to cover these cost-sharing aspects as well -- a crucial reform since "affordability" often focuses too much on the premium costs and too little on the costs of care once someone actually gets sick.
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[dflprincess]

4. The last point in the list you posted seems to be open to interpretation

Page 8 of the PDF verision of the bill defines "cost-sharing":

COST-SHARING.—The term ‘‘cost-sharing’’ includes deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and similar charges but does NOT include premiums or any network payment differential for covered services or spending for non-covered services.

On page 29 there is this:
(A) ANNUAL LIMITATION.—The cost-shar-ing incurred under the essential benefits pack-age with respect to an individual (or family) for a year does not exceed the applicable level spec-ified in subparagraph (B).
(B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.—The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Con-sumer Price Index (United States city average) applicable to such year.

Reading this, it sounds like the out pockets will be $5k or $10 plus the premiums

I heard an interview on NPR with Steny Hoyer a couple days ago and Steny couldn't say what the premiums would actually be per month or annualry because he says they would be "market driven" (not good, not good at all). He also talked about the out of pocket maximums as something different, but designed to prevent bankruptcies. Though an additional $5 or 10 thousand a year doesn't sound so easy for someone to come up with to me.

link to bill:
http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

[global1]

5. Are These Insurance Exchanges Another Way Of Spinning 'Cooperatives'?.......

I'm sorry somebody needs to interpret this summary for me. I'm not sure what all of that means for us, businesses, private insurance, etc.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) proposed cooperatives instead of a govt insurance plan.

The House bill would let people sign up for a govt insurance plan at an exchange.

More on the exchanges:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/71738.html