The Finding Out What's In The Bill Thread

[boedicca]

This is the thread in which we post the goodies that we find out are in the bill now that it has been passed - just as Her Lady Highness Pelosi promised.

Here's a good one: the Senior Staff who drafted the bill slipped in a provision which expempts themselves from ObamaCare:

One such surprise is found on page 158 of the legislation, which appears to create a carveout for senior staff members in the leadership offices and on congressional committees, essentially exempting those senior Democrat staffers who wrote the bill from being forced to purchase health care plans in the same way as other Americans.

A major story during the course of the health care debate was whether members of Congress would commit to placing themselves in the same health care exchanges as average citizens, or whether they would hang on to their government plans — that’s why leadership chose to add this portion to the bill, serving as a guarantee that members would participate in the same health plans as the people. Here’s the relevant text:

(D) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE EXCHANGE-

(i) REQUIREMENT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are–

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or

(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).

But as with a lot of legislative matters, the devil is in the details — or in this case, the definitions. As anyone who’s worked on Capitol Hill knows, the personal office staff for a member is governed by different rules than those who work on committees and in the leadership offices. It appears from the way this language is written that those staffers NOT in personal offices, such as those working and paid under the committee structure (such as those working for Chairman Henry Waxman) or those working on leadership staff (such as those working for Speaker Nancy Pelosi) would be exempt from these requirements (emphasis added).

(ii) DEFINITIONS- In this section:

(I) MEMBER OF CONGRESS- The term `Member of Congress’ means any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate.

(II) CONGRESSIONAL STAFF- The term `congressional staff’ means all full-time and part-time employees employed by the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, DC or outside of Washington, DC.

According to the Congressional Research Service, this definition of staff will only apply to those staffers employed within a member’s “personal office” — meaning that it will absolutely not apply to committee staff members, and may not apply to leadership staff.

http://newledger.com/2010/03/exempted-from-obamacare-senior-staff-who-wrote-the-bill/


Please add the surprised you discover are buried in the bill!

 

[Vel]

How about this for all those who think they might start their own little construction business.
*********************************************
PAGE 2107


1 (2) Section 4980H(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code

2 of 1986, as added by section 1513(a) of this Act, is amended

3 by adding at the end the following:

4 ‘‘(D) APPLICATION TO CONSTRUCTION IN

5 DUSTRY EMPLOYERS.—In the case of any em

6 ployer the substantial annual gross receipts of

7 which are attributable to the construction indus

8 try—

9 ‘‘(i) subparagraph (A) shall be applied

10 by substituting ‘who employed an average of

11 at least 5 full-time employees on business

12 days during the preceding calendar year

13 and whose annual payroll expenses exceed

14 $250,000 for such preceding calendar year’

15 for ‘who employed an average of at least 50

16 full-time employees on business days during

17 the preceding calendar year’, and

18 ‘‘(ii) subparagraph (B) shall be ap

19 plied by substituting ‘5’ for ‘50’.’’.

20 (3) The amendment made by paragraph (2) shall

21 apply to months beginning after December 31, 2013.

That’s right, the construction industry, which currently has an unemployment rate of 27.1 percent (you read that correctly), is being targeted in this bill with a much lower exemption threshold than other small businesses. While most other small businesses are not subject to fines and regulations unless they have 50 or more employees, construction companies — wait, “any employer the substantial annual gross receipts of which are attributable to the construction industry” so this takes in lots of other companies who are ancillary to the industry as well — are subject to these same provisions if they have as few as 5 employees.
This little-noticed provision was slipped into the Senate bill just prior to its passage on Christmas Eve by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) And while members of Congress had pledged to the construction industry that they would remove this language or address it in the reconciliation package of legislative fixes, they didn’t.

Health Care Bill Targets Construction Industry Virginia Virtucon

 

[boedicca]

Wow.

There are a lot of electricians and PLUMBERS who fit into this category.

 

[Immanuel]

Here is the list of goodies:












































































Immie

 

[Valerie]

Here is what to expect if the bill becomes law:

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF ENACTMENT

*Insurance companies will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Lifetime coverage limits will be eliminated and annual limits are to be restricted.

*Insurers will be barred from excluding children for coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

*Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until the age of 26. Many health plans currently drop dependents from coverage when they turn 19 or finish college.

*Uninsured adults with a pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health coverage through a new program that will expire once new insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

*A temporary reinsurance program is created to help companies maintain health coverage for early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. This also expires in 2014.

*Medicare drug beneficiaries who fall into the "doughnut hole" coverage gap will get a $250 rebate. The bill eventually closes that gap which currently begins after $2,700 is spent on drugs. Coverage starts again after $6,154 is spent.

*A tax credit becomes available for some small businesses to help provide coverage for workers.

*A 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services that use ultraviolet lamps goes into effect on July 1.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2011

*Medicare provides 10 percent bonus payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons.

*Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get a free annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan service. New health plans will be required to cover preventive services with little or no cost to patients.

*A new program under the Medicaid plan for the poor goes into effect in October that allows states to offer home and community based care for the disabled that might otherwise require institutional care.

*Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage services are frozen at 2010 levels. These payments are to be gradually reduced to bring them more in line with traditional Medicare.

*Employers are required to disclose the value of health benefits on employees' W-2 tax forms.

*An annual fee is imposed on pharmaceutical companies according to market share. The fee does not apply to companies with sales of $5 million or less.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2012

*Physician payment reforms are implemented in Medicare to enhance primary care services and encourage doctors to form "accountable care organizations" to improve quality and efficiency of care.

*An incentive program is established in Medicare for acute care hospitals to improve quality outcomes.

*The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the government programs, begin tracking hospital readmission rates and puts in place financial incentives to reduce preventable readmissions.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2013

*A national pilot program is established for Medicare on payment bundling to encourage doctors, hospitals and other care providers to better coordinate patient care.

*The threshold for claiming medical expenses on itemized tax returns is raised to 10 percent from 7.5 percent of income. The threshold remains at 7.5 percent for the elderly through 2016.

*The Medicare payroll tax is raised to 2.35 percent from 1.45 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples with incomes over $250,000. The tax is imposed on some investment income for that income group.

*A 2.9 percent excise tax in imposed on the sale of medical devices. Anything generally purchased at the retail level by the public is excluded from the tax.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2014

*State health insurance exchanges for small businesses and individuals open.

*Most people will be required to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a fine if they don't. Healthcare tax credits become available to help people with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty purchase coverage on the exchange.

*Health plans no longer can exclude people from coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

*Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage face a fine of $2,000 for each employee if any worker receives subsidized insurance on the exchange. The first 30 employees aren't counted for the fine.

*Health insurance companies begin paying a fee based on their market share.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2015

*Medicare creates a physician payment program aimed at rewarding quality of care rather than volume of services.

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2018

*An excise tax on high cost employer-provided plans is imposed. The first $27,500 of a family plan and $10,200 for individual coverage is exempt from the tax. Higher levels are set for plans covering retirees and people in high risk professions.

FACTBOX-US healthcare bill would provide immediate benefits | Reuters

 

[Valerie]

WINNERS

BRAND-NAME DRUGMAKERS

* The pharmaceutical industry keeps its $80 billion agreement to provide savings and rebates. Its fees, to be divided among companies such as Pfizer and Merck & Co, would be delayed from 2010 to 2011, increasing from the initial $2.3 billion a year to $2.7 billion.

* Overall, wider insurance coverage could help offset the costs by providing more potential customers.

* Drugmakers warded off deeper price cuts in the Medicare program for the elderly. The House had sought to fully close the so-called "doughnut hole" where coverage drops temporarily after reaching a certain limit, but the bill maintains the industry's 50-percent discount. The government will pay for another 25-percent discount.

* Lawmakers rejected Obama's plan to end lucrative "pay-for-delay" settlements with brand-name drugmakers, a win for both generic and brand-name companies.

* The bill also discards an earlier provision that would have extended a hospital drug discount program.

BRAND BIOLOGIC DRUGMAKERS

* While the bill sets up a regulatory path for generic versions of expensive biologic drugs, Amgen and Roche's Genentech unit and other biological drugmakers won a 12-year period of exclusive sales for brand-name drugs before facing competition from generic rivals.

DEVICE MAKERS

* Fees for medical device makers, such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic, would be delayed to 2013 after initial bills called for 2010. The sector earlier won a reduced industry tax of $20 billion, down from $40 billion.

* Rather than an overall industry fee, the bill now contains a 2.9 percent sales tax. Certain consumer products, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, are exempt.

HOSPITALS

* Hospitals, which include companies such as Universal Health Services and Tenet Healthcare, say they kept a $155 billion, 10-year deal to accept lower government payments from Medicare and Medicaid in exchange for an expected boost in insured customers.

* A provision that could have helped certain rural and children's hospitals with an expanded drug discount program was dropped.

PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS

* Analysts say increased Medicare drug coverage could boost pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) that administer prescription drug benefits as companies, such as Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, could see increased volumes.

* PBMs still face more disclosures but not new taxes. Companies must give the Department of Health and Human Services information about rebates from drugmakers for certain drugs.



LOSERS

HEALTH INSURERS

* While health insurers overall still face tighter regulation, companies such as Aetna Inc, Cigna Corp, UnitedHealth Group Inc and WellPoint Inc saw their $67 billion, 10-year tax delayed until 2014.

* Private Medicare plans called Medicare Advantage would see their payments frozen in 2011, then lowered in 2012. The plans, which can offer more benefits than traditional Medicare coverage, would also have to spend at least 85 cents out of every dollar on medical costs -- leaving 15 cents toward overhead and salaries, among other things.

* Consumer protection rules would change the way companies do business, banning denial of coverage for preexisting medical conditions and ending lifetime coverage limits. Some curbs would be expanded to all health insurance plans six months after the bill passes, while others take effect in 2014.

* The bill changes penalties for individuals who do not buy health insurance as mandated. The fine is lowered from $495 to $325 in 2015 and from $750 to $695 in 2016, but the alternative method of fining people using a percentage of income increased slightly to 2.5 percent by 2016.

* The bill does not include President Barack Obama's call for federal oversight of health insurance rates. It also expands tax credits and other financing to help more people afford insurance.

* Lawmakers have said roughly 30 million more Americans could have insurance with the reform.

GENERIC DRUGMAKERS

* The 12-year period of exclusive brand-name sales of biologic drugs surpasses the 5-7 years proponents had sought.

* Overall, companies that make generic versions of brand-name drugs see little direct help, although increasing insurance access may help more people buy medicine.

* But the bill includes a 75-percent discount on generic drugs in Medicare, the same as on brand-name drugs. Companies were concerned that closing the Medicare "doughnut hole" would turn people away from cheaper, generic medicines.

TANNING BED MAKERS

* The bill keeps a 10-percent tax on consumers who use indoor tanning salons, seeking to raise $2.7 billion by 2019 while discouraging a practice that can cause skin cancer.

Factbox: Winners, losers in House healthcare bill | Reuters

 

[LuckyDan]

Here's the hit list:

Democrats Voting 'Aye'


Gary Ackerman [D, NY-5]
Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1]
Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Brian Baird [D, WA-3]
Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
Melissa Bean [D, IL-8]
Xavier Becerra [D, CA-31]
Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
John Boccieri [D, OH-16]
Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
Allen Boyd [D, FL-2]
Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
Michael Capuano [D, MA-8]
Dennis Cardoza [D, CA-18]
Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
André Carson [D, IN-7]
Kathy Castor [D, FL-11]
Judy Chu [D, CA-32]
Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
William Clay [D, MO-1]
Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
Gerald Connolly [D, VA-11]
John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Jim Costa [D, CA-20]
Jerry Costello [D, IL-12]
Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
Henry Cuellar [D, TX-28]
Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]
Kathleen Dahlkemper [D, PA-3]
Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]
Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
John Dingell [D, MI-15]
Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
Steve Driehaus [D, OH-1]
Donna Edwards [D, MD-4]
Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
Eliot Engel [D, NY-17]
Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
Bob Etheridge [D, NC-2]
Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
Chaka Fattah [D, PA-2]
Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
Bill Foster [D, IL-14]
Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
Marcia Fudge [D, OH-11]
John Garamendi [D, CA-10]
Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]
Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
Barton Gordon [D, TN-6]
Alan Grayson [D, FL-8]
Raymond Green [D, TX-29]
Al Green [D, TX-9]
Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
Luis Gutiérrez [D, IL-4]
John Hall [D, NY-19]
Deborah Halvorson [D, IL-11]
Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
Martin Heinrich [D, NM-1]
Brian Higgins [D, NY-27]
Baron Hill [D, IN-9]
James Himes [D, CT-4]
Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
Rubén Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
Paul Hodes [D, NH-2]
Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5]
Jay Inslee [D, WA-1]
Steve Israel [D, NY-2]
Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
Paul Kanjorski [D, PA-11]
Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9]
Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]
Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]
Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
Mary Jo Kilroy [D, OH-15]
Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
Ann Kirkpatrick [D, AZ-1]
Ron Klein [D, FL-22]
Suzanne Kosmas [D, FL-24]
Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
James Langevin [D, RI-2]
Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
John Larson [D, CT-1]
Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
Sander Levin [D, MI-12]
John Lewis [D, GA-5]
David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]
Ben Luján [D, NM-3]
Daniel Maffei [D, NY-25]
Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
Betsy Markey [D, CO-4]
Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4]
Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
James McDermott [D, WA-7]
James McGovern [D, MA-3]
Jerry McNerney [D, CA-11]
Kendrick Meek [D, FL-17]
Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
Michael Michaud [D, ME-2]
Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
George Miller [D, CA-7]
Harry Mitchell [D, AZ-5]
Alan Mollohan [D, WV-1]
Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
James Moran [D, VA-8]
Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
Scott Murphy [D, NY-20]
Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]
Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
Grace Napolitano [D, CA-38]
Richard Neal [D, MA-2]
James Oberstar [D, MN-8]
David Obey [D, WI-7]
John Olver [D, MA-1]
Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27]
William Owens [D, NY-23]
Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
William Pascrell [D, NJ-8]
Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
Nancy Pelosi [D, CA-8]
Ed Perlmutter [D, CO-7]
Thomas Perriello [D, VA-5]
Gary Peters [D, MI-9]
Chellie Pingree [D, ME-1]
Jared Polis [D, CO-2]
Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
David Price [D, NC-4]
Mike Quigley [D, IL-5]
Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
Laura Richardson [D, CA-37]
Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-34]
Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
Bobby Rush [D, IL-1]
Timothy Ryan [D, OH-17]
John Salazar [D, CO-3]
Loretta Sanchez [D, CA-47]
Linda Sánchez [D, CA-39]
John Sarbanes [D, MD-3]
Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
Mark Schauer [D, MI-7]
Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Kurt Schrader [D, OR-5]
Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
Robert Scott [D, VA-3]
David Scott [D, GA-13]
José Serrano [D, NY-16]
Joe Sestak [D, PA-7]
Carol Shea-Porter [D, NH-1]
Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
Adam Smith [D, WA-9]
Victor Snyder [D, AR-2]
Jackie Speier [D, CA-12]
John Spratt [D, SC-5]
Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
Bart Stupak [D, MI-1]
Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
Michael Thompson [D, CA-1]
Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
John Tierney [D, MA-6]
Dina Titus [D, NV-3]
Paul Tonko [D, NY-21]
Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
Niki Tsongas [D, MA-5]
Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
Nydia Velázquez [D, NY-12]
Peter Visclosky [D, IN-1]
Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
Diane Watson [D, CA-33]
Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
Anthony Weiner [D, NY-9]
Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
Charles Wilson [D, OH-6]
Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
David Wu [D, OR-1]
John Yarmuth [D, KY-3]

 

[Valerie]

* By 2014, most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

* Medicaid would be expanded in 2014, allowing incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four, based on current guidelines.

* State-based insurance exchanges are slated to begin in 2014, for individuals and small businesses with up to 100 employees. Minimum coverage for a policy would include 60 percent of the benefit cost of the plan, with an out-of-pocket limit equal to the Health Savings Account law limit ($5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families in 2010). The Congressional Budget Office estimates premiums for people in the individual market would increase 10 percent to 13 percent on average in 2016, specifically because coverage would be more inclusive. New policies would be required to cover a range of benefits, including hospitalizations, doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity care and certain preventive care tests.

* Premium tax credits are available to certain Americans, making up to 400 percent of the poverty level, up to $88,200 for a family of four in 2010. For instance, a family of four making $50,000 would receive a credit of $5,800.

* Those who are getting insurance through their employer will see an average decrease in the cost of the premium of up to 3 percent by 2016.

* Some $196 billion in savings come from permanent reductions in the annual payment adjustments for some Medicare services, including inpatient and ambulatory care, and cost savings of the Medicare Advantage program.

* Insurers would be barred from rejecting adult applicants based on pre-existing conditions from 2014 on; upon the bill passage in law, children with pre-existing conditions must be covered. Between now and 2014, the federal government would create and operate a high-risk pool for adults, using $5 billion to finance it.

* Young people in their 20s could stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26; alternatively, they would be given the option of buying a "catastrophic" plan that would have low premiums.

* There are no lifetime limits on the dollar value of health insurance coverage.

* Large businesses with more than 50 employees that don't offer coverage and have at least one full-time employee receiving a premium tax credit will be assessed a fee of $2,000 per employee, excluding the first 30 employees. Those that offer insurance but have employees receiving the tax credit will pay the lesser of $3,000 for each employee receiving a premium credit or $750 for each full-time employee.

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

* Pharmaceutical and health insurance industries would be required to pay a new annual fee in the coming years.

* The bill does not address tort reform.

Highlights of the health care reform bill | SeacoastOnline.com


Information for these facts come from the Kaiser Family Foundation and several federal sources including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Resources and Congressional Budget Office.


>


It's difficult to take the time and focus on sifting through all the garbage info and slanted opinion pieces to finally get down to the FACTS of what is actually in this bill. The dreaded federal plan "public option" is not even a part of this final version, correct???

 

[Ravi]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

 

[Immanuel]

* By 2014, most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

* Medicaid would be expanded in 2014, allowing incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four, based on current guidelines.

* State-based insurance exchanges are slated to begin in 2014, for individuals and small businesses with up to 100 employees. Minimum coverage for a policy would include 60 percent of the benefit cost of the plan, with an out-of-pocket limit equal to the Health Savings Account law limit ($5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families in 2010). The Congressional Budget Office estimates premiums for people in the individual market would increase 10 percent to 13 percent on average in 2016, specifically because coverage would be more inclusive. New policies would be required to cover a range of benefits, including hospitalizations, doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity care and certain preventive care tests.

* Premium tax credits are available to certain Americans, making up to 400 percent of the poverty level, up to $88,200 for a family of four in 2010. For instance, a family of four making $50,000 would receive a credit of $5,800.

* Those who are getting insurance through their employer will see an average decrease in the cost of the premium of up to 3 percent by 2016.

* Some $196 billion in savings come from permanent reductions in the annual payment adjustments for some Medicare services, including inpatient and ambulatory care, and cost savings of the Medicare Advantage program.

* Insurers would be barred from rejecting adult applicants based on pre-existing conditions from 2014 on; upon the bill passage in law, children with pre-existing conditions must be covered. Between now and 2014, the federal government would create and operate a high-risk pool for adults, using $5 billion to finance it.

* Young people in their 20s could stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26; alternatively, they would be given the option of buying a "catastrophic" plan that would have low premiums.

* There are no lifetime limits on the dollar value of health insurance coverage.

* Large businesses with more than 50 employees that don't offer coverage and have at least one full-time employee receiving a premium tax credit will be assessed a fee of $2,000 per employee, excluding the first 30 employees. Those that offer insurance but have employees receiving the tax credit will pay the lesser of $3,000 for each employee receiving a premium credit or $750 for each full-time employee.

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

* Pharmaceutical and health insurance industries would be required to pay a new annual fee in the coming years.

* The bill does not address tort reform.

Highlights of the health care reform bill | SeacoastOnline.com


Information for these facts come from the Kaiser Family Foundation and several federal sources including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Resources and Congressional Budget Office.


>


It's difficult to take the time and focus on sifting through all the garbage info and slanted opinion pieces to finally get down to the FACTS of what is actually in this bill. The dreaded federal plan "public option" is not even a part of this final version, correct???

No, it is not a part of the Senate Plan.

The Senate passed a version of health care reform without the public option. My understanding is that Senate Dems wanted to get the bill passed and could not do so with the public option in place so they took it out expecting it to be reconciled into the final bill passed by both houses. Good Ole Nancy figured out that she didn't have the votes to pass Health Care Reform in the House so she came out with this plan to get the House to vote on and accept the Senate version in mass.

Thus we have a piece meal law that was thrown together that no one knows what the hell it says or does.

The indication I believe is that Good Ole Nancy would get the Public Option next time around.

Aren't they already talking about how they are going to fix this law?

God help us!

Immie

 

[WillowTree]

Here is the list of goodies:












































































Immie

 

[Immanuel]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

You know, I could live with a public "option". If it were truly an option.

My problem with the one that was written early on in this mess, was that it was written in such a way as to destroy the Health Insurance Industry. It was written with the provision that health insurance companies could not write new policies. I'm sorry, but that would have killed the industry and forced millions of people out of work.

If a business cannot take on new business how is it supposed to survive? At the government teat?

Immie

 

[Valerie]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

Yes, that's the part people really don't like.

By 2014, most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

 

[Ravi]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

You know, I could live with a public "option". If it were truly an option.

My problem with the one that was written early on in this mess, was that it was written in such a way as to destroy the Health Insurance Industry. It was written with the provision that health insurance companies could not write new policies. I'm sorry, but that would have killed the industry and forced millions of people out of work.

If a business cannot take on new business how is it supposed to survive? At the government teat?

Immie

I don't remember that being in the bill.

Regardless, I have no interest in putting private insurers out of business. A little competition surely wouldn't hurt.

 

[Ravi]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

Yes, that's the part people really don't like.

By 2014, most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

Better just to tax everyone and offer a public option.

 

[DiamondDave]

When the maker of the rules and regulations gets in the game with the businesses, it is not competition

 

[DiamondDave]

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

Yes, that's the part people really don't like.

By 2014, most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

Better just to tax everyone and offer a public option.

But then you have people paying different prices for services... for we know that ~50% of the citizenry PAYS NO MOTHERFUCKING INCOME TAX.... and their 'services' would then be paid for by those who do pay taxes... hence why opponents like me keep telling you that it is WRONG to have contributors paying for the personal needs of non-contributors... it is a basic infringement on freedoms and personal rights

 

[Truthmatters]

yeah because 50% of Americans just sit arround and do nothing all day huh?

 

[Lonestar_logic]

* Small businesses with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 will receive a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employer's contribution if the employer pays 50 percent or more of health insurance premiums. Full credit is given to those with less than 10 employees who make on average less than $25,000.

I especially like this.

I also like the fact that children can stay on their parents policies until age 26.

Honestly, other that penalizing people for not purchasing insurance I can't find much to dislike...except the lack of a public option.

If you need to keep your children on your health plan until they're 26 then you have some underachieving children. Ever heard of S-Chip?

 

[WillowTree]

yes, that's the part people really don't like.

by 2014, most americans would be required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, starting at $95 or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and capping at $695 or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016, for an individual.

better just to tax everyone and offer a public option.

but then you have people paying different prices for services... For we know that ~50% of the citizenry pays no motherfucking income tax.... And their 'services' would then be paid for by those who do pay taxes... Hence why opponents like me keep telling you that it is wrong to have contributors paying for the personal needs of non-contributors... It is a basic infringement on freedoms and personal rights

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