Late Night Bulletin - Preview of the Senate Bill
Late Night Extra: The Senate Finance Committee has leaked some big changes to the House Bill. As I posted my summary of the bill I would create, A major leak of the Senate bill hit the wires.
- Individual Mandate to obtain insurance.
- No employer mandate but a tax to reimburse subsidy's to low income workers obtaining insurance.
- Scaled deductibility of high cost insurance. Those with $25,000 of annual benefits might only get to deduct 65% of the cost, much like the current entertainment 50% deduction.
- Limit on Flexible Spending Accounts. HSA's not mentioned, but HRA's probably also limited.
- Formation of a non-profit co-op to compete with insurers. A government run plan is off the table.
- Elimination of pre-ex clauses
- Major changes to Medicare enforcement of reimbursement cuts as mandated in previous legislation.
First look is a big improvement.
Posted by HealthInsure.com at 7/27/2009 11:15 PM 
Categories: Healthcare reform
Tags: Senate Bill Healthcare
Categories: Healthcare reform
Tags: Senate Bill Healthcare
I certainly hope that the government health insurance option is not in the final bill. Millions of us who work in the Health Insurance Industry will be looking for a new line of work if this option goes into effect 5 years from now, as the House plan has it scheduled.
I sell/advise families and businesses on the best health insurance plans for their needs..and have done so since 1987.
Mandating that every applicant be approved for coverage and providing subsidies to help pay the premiums is the way to go. These two items in themselves are all that is needed at this time to provide coverage to every American. Setting up a full-blown government healthcare plan alongside the V.A. and Medicare is far too expensive and overkill. Legislation and Subsidies will get the job done nicely without re-inventing the wheel as the Democrats in Congress seek to do.
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If it is true that none of the provisions of this bill will take effect until 2013, then I think that it is time for a march on Washington. We need to have the pre-existing condition exclusions dropped across the US before the end of 2009, not 4 years from now. A government of politicians who are afraid of having the direct consequences of their actions clearly visible while they are in office is not responsive nor representative of its citizens. Give us action today, or don't bother coming come back to Washington in January.
Editior Comment: Be careful what you wish for. You might want to amend your wish for a waiver of pre-ex and guarantee issue, "as long as you had prior coverage". If you allow insurance, on demand, with no pre-ex, no one will have insurance.
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