A Breakdown of Health Care Reform Part 1

First, I'd like to thank the fine people at The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for providing a website that shows a side by side comparison of the Health Care reform proposals. Here's a breakdown of what the President wants, how different members of Congress are trying to achieve that, and how it's going to affect you.

Part 1: Overall approach to expand access to coverage
A- Reduce long-term growth of Health Care cost to businesses and government: In this section we are simply focusing on how each individual reform plan would cut the cost to businesses and the government.

-Senate Finance Committee "Policy Options": Their current plan does not address this issue.

-Senate HELP Committee "Affordable Health Choices Act": Grant small business credits to offset the cost of employer provided insurance.

-House Tri-Committee "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200)": Grant cost-sharing credits to individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Employers have an option to provide for their employees or put funds into the Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund, with exceptions of small businesses who will receive a credit to offset the cost of employer provided insurance.

-Senators Tom Coburn (R- OK) and Richard Burr (R- NC), Representatives Paul Ryan (R- WI) and Devin Nunes (R- CA) "Patient's Choice Act of 2009 (S. 1099, H.R. 2520)": Their current plan does not address this issue.

-Representative John Conyers (D- MI) "U.S. National Health Care Act (H.R. 676)": Turn the health care system into a non-profit system that would be funded by leverage of additional taxes. The plan would provide a global budget for hospitals and other non-institutional providers.

-Representative John Dingell (D- MI) "National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 15)": Plan would be funded by value-added tax on certain transactions.

-Representative Tom Price (R- GA) of the Republican Study Committee "Empowering Patients First Act": Plan would deduct premium cost out of income taxes and provide a refundable tax credit.

-Senator Bernie Sanders (I- VT) "American Health Security Act of 2009 (S. 703)": Plan would provide a global budget for all hospitals and non-institutional providers. Employers and employees would share in a payroll tax and there would be leveraged health care income tax.

-Representative Pete Stark (D- CA) "AmeriCare Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 193)": Employers and individuals would contribute to the plan. It would also receive funding through general revenues.

-Senators Ron Wyden (D- OR) and Bob Bennett (R- UT) "Healthy American Act (S. 391)": Their current plan does not address this issue.

-Former Majority Leaders Senators Howard Baker (R- TN), Tom Daschle (D- SD), and Bob Dole (R- KS) "Crossing Our Lines: Working Together to Reform the U.S. Health System": Their plan would provide a credit for premiums as well as small businesses to offset the cost of employer provided health care.

B-Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of Health Care cost: In this section we are focusing on how each proposal plans to prevent families from falling into debt from rising health care bills.

-Senate Finance: Their plan would allow for subsidies for families and individuals within 100 % to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

- Senate HELP: Their plan would allow for subsidies for families and individuals within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

-House Tri-Committee: Their plan would provide credits for premiums and cost-sharing for families and individuals within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Health Insurance Exchange would also have a trust fund that would be funded as an alternative for employers.

-Senators and Representatives: Their plan would provide an employer tax credit of $2290 per individual or $5710 per family.

-Rep. Conyers: His plan requires no premium or cost-sharing by any individual.

-Rep. Dingell: His current plan does not address this issue.

-Rep. Price: His plan would provide refundable tax credits to families and individuals within 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. It would also require states to cover 90% of the children and families within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level with the possibility of expanding that number to 300% the Federal Poverty Level. It would also issue vouchers to children covered under Medicare or CHIPS for private care.

-Sen. Sanders: Under his current plan, individuals would not be required to pay premiums or cost-share.

-Rep. Stark: His plan would provide Federal premium subsidies to individuals within 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.

-Sens. Wyden and Bennett: Their plan would provide Federal subsidies for individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

-Former Majority Leaders: Their plan would provide credits for individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

C- Generate Choice of Doctors and Health Plan: In this section we are focusing on how each proposal would provide a choice of doctor and health plan for Americans.

-Senate Finance: They would create a Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and small businesses as well as provide a temporary buy-in to Medicare for the pre-Medicare population.

-Senate HELP: There would be a state based American Health Benefit Gateway for individuals and small businesses. The proposal would also require employers to provide coverage for employees.

-House Tri-Committee: They would create a Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and small businesses. The proposal would also require employers to provide coverage for employees.

-Senators and Representatives: They propose a state based Health Insurance Exchange with private plans meeting certain benefits and standards. Employers would be provided with a tax credit of $2290 per individual or $5710 per family as incentives over the loss of certain tax preferences. It would also provide private insurance for low-income Medicaid families.

-Rep. Conyers: His proposal is to create a public health insurance program.

-Rep. Dingall: He proposes to create a public health insurance program that would also require states to administer programs to provide equivalent care for "needy" ineligible individuals.

-Rep. Price: He would establish both an Association Health Plan and Individual Memebership Associations for individuals and employers. It would also require states to provide coverage for 90% of children within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level with the condition of changing the number to 300% the Federal Poverty Level, or offer vouchers from Medicaid and CHIPS to private insurance.

-Sen. Sanders: Would create a state based health insurance program.

-Rep. Stark: His proposal would create a public plan modeled after Medicare with an option out for those individuals who are in qualified groups or Medicare.

-Sens. Wyden and Bennett: Their proposal would require most Americans to buy private coverage called Healthy Americans Private Insurance that would meet certain standards. It would also allow for employer sponsored health care but without favorable tax treatments they currently receive.

-Former Majority Leaders: Their plan would create a state based Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and small businesses. It would also require employers to provide coverage.

D- Invest in prevention and wellness: There is currently no proposal that addresses this issue. However, and issue like this should have a focal point of starting early by preventing obesity in children through health classes and money toward physical education.

E- Improve Patient Safety and Quality Care: There is currently no proposal that addresses this issue. However, this topic is key to any type of reform of the health care system.

F- Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all: Similar to making sure Americans don't go bankrupt from heath care cost, we focus on affordable health coverage for all Americans.

-Senate Finance: Their plan would require all Americans to have health care, while providing subsidies for individuals and families within 100 to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. They would also expand Medicaid and CHIPS, as well as allow a temporary buy in to Medicare for the pre-Medicare population.

-Senate HELP: Would require all individuals to have health care. There would be a state based American Health Benefit Gateway with subsidies for individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. It would also expand Medicaid to individuals within 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.

-House Tri-Committee: They would require all individuals to have health care with a credit for premium and cost sharing going to individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. There would also be a Health Insurance Exchange trust fund funded as an employer option. The proposal would also call for an expansion of Medicaid to 133% the Federal Poverty Level.

-Senators and Representatives: This plan would provide a tax credit of $2290 for individuals and $5710 for families as incentives into the program. It would also provide Medicaid for low-income individuals with disabilities and would integrate low-income families into private health care.

-Rep. Conyers: His plan would create a public health insurance program in which individuals would not be required to pay premiums or cost share. The health care industry would become non-profit.

-Rep. Dingell: His plan would create a national health insurance for eligible individuals. It would require the states to administer programs for "needy" non-eligible individuals.

- Rep. Price: His proposal would allow people who buy coverage on the individual market to deduct their premium from their income tax. It would also provide refundable tax credit to individuals and families within 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Under this plan, there would be a state based pool for high-risk, pre-existing conditioned individuals. It would also require the states to cover 90% of kids with families within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level with a conditional upgrade to 300% the Federal Poverty Level. It would also provide vouchers for children on Medicaid or CHIPS for private coverage.

-Sen. Sanders: State based public health care for all US residents. Individuals would not be required to pay premiums or cost-share.

-Rep. Starks: His proposal would create a new public plan as a default coverage for all Americans. It would allow individuals in qualified groups or Medicare to opt out. Federal premiums subsidies would be available to individuals within 300% the Federal Poverty Level.

-Sens. Wyden and Bennett: Their plan would require most Americans to purchase Healthy American Private Insurance with subsidies for individuals and families within 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. It would also allow employers to sponsor health care.

-Former Majority Leaders: Their plan would require all Americans to have health care. It would create state based health care with premium credits for individuals and families within 400% the Federal Poverty Level. The proposal would also require employers to provide coverage for employees as well as expand Medicaid to 100% the Federal Poverty Level.

G-Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job: There is currently no plan that addresses this issue. However, with many agreeing on a Health Insurance Exchange, this maybe covered in that discussion. Either way, this is suppose to be a staple in Obama's overhaul of health care.

H- End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions: In this area we will focus on what will be available for those individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.

-Senate Finance: Their current proposal does not address this issue.

- Senate HELP: Their current proposal does not address this issue.

-House Tri-Committee: Their current proposal does not address this issue.

-Senators and Representatives: Their proposal would maintain Medicare coverage for low-income individuals with disabilities.

-Rep. Conyers: His current proposal does not address this issue.

-Rep. Dingell: His proposal calls for the states to administer equivalent care for "needy" individuals who do not meet the national health insurance eligibility.

-Rep. Price: His proposal would have the states implement high-risk pools or reinsurance programs to provide coverage for individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

-Sen. Sanders: His current proposal does not address this issue.

-Rep. Starks: His current proposal does not address this issue.

-Sens. Wyden and Bennett: His current proposal does not address this issue.

-Former Majority Leaders: Their current proposal does not address this issue.

***Coming Soon: A Breakdown of Health Care Reform Part 2. We'll be going into individual mandates, employer requirements"***