Nebraska Wins Big in Health Care Bill; California, New York, Florida Lose (and So Do Unions)

[The Straight Story]

Nebraska Wins Big in Health Care Bill; California, New York, Florida Lose (and So Do Unions)
Monday, January 04, 2010

If the health care reform plan crafted by the Senate becomes law, Nebraska will be a big winner, while some of the nation’s most populous states and labor unions will lose out. Nebraska is set to receive an extra $100 million in Medicaid funds under the provisions of the Senate bill, which was amended to win the key vote of Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE). Another part of the legislation would impose a tax on health plans that cost employees and employers more than a combined $12,000 per year per person—something commonly found in California, New York and Florida. Many health plans that cater to unionized employees also fall into this category, thanks to recent decisions by organized labor to forego higher salaries in favor of better medical coverage.

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Nebraska_Wins_Big_in_Health_Care_Bill__California_New_York_Florida_Lose__and_So_Do_Unions_100104

[saigon68]

1. More Change you can believe in

[FBaggins]

2. Do the big states lose because of the "to generous" tax?

Or is there something more specific?

My assumption is that health insurance must be more expensive in these higher cost-of-living states and that puts more people over the line of extra taxation. Which, of course, is what comes of having s fixed dollar line instead of some more flexible standard.

Though I guess those states have been losing out all along since federal income taxes don't account for cost of living either.

[mmonk]

3. The bill sucks.

eom

[bagimin]

4. Don't penalize union workers.

Thats a middle class tax hike.