$85.6 billion per year. Why not report it that way?

[LuckyTheDog]

The media keep giving the cost over 10 years for health care reform. The problem is, most people don't read carefully. Many will see that and think it's $856 billion every year for 10 years.

I think we need to make sure people realize that the per-year cost is a tenth of that $856 billion figure.

Just sayin'

[FormerDittoHead]

1. Having studied statistics and finance, it pisses me off too.

Not only is 86 billion a drop in the bucket compared to the military budget, but what will $86 billion be 10 years from now?

Financially speaking, what's the "Present Value" of $86 billion 10 years from now?

I also don't like how, in the face of a TRILLION dollar budget, they emphasize Million(s) and a *B*illion so much, trying to make a million dollars sound outrageous because it's more than you or I make.

[LisaM]

2. I had the same thought

very skewed way of reporting it.

[Statistical]

3. Its more than $85.6 both sides are playing games...

The "score" is for 10 years but remember how the exchange & subsidies don't go into effect until 2013.

Only 6 years of the plan have the full price. The first 4 years (2009-2013) are relatively "cheap" with most of the changes not being borne by the tazpayer (no denying coverage, no dropping coverage, min terms, penalties for business not offering coverage etc). The "expensive years" are the years after 2013. That is one reason for pushing the exchange back to 2013. It is is ~$100B to ~$120B per year then cost for 10 years is $1000B - $1200B

Now if you artificially move the exchange (the most expensive component) back to 2013 then you are "saving" $300B-$400B thus "lowering" the price without reducing the actual annual cost.

The republicans like the 10 year number because it is big and scary.
The Democrats like the 10 year number because like you just did it way under estimates the annual cost.

Win-Win. :)

That is why both sides use it.

[unhappycamper]

4. The occupations are costing us at least $144 billion a year.

How's that for perspective?