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November 7, 2009 11:37 PM

Key Provisions of the House Health Care Bill

Posted by Jill Jackson
The House passed H.R. 3962, called the "Affordable Health Care for America Act," in a 220 to 215 vote on Saturday night. Here's a look at some of the provisions in the $1.2 trillion dollar bill:

  • Creates a public health insurance option and a national exchange for the uninsured and small businesses to purchase health insurance. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would negotiate rates with doctors and hospitals on reimbursement rates.

  • The bill includes mandates for individuals to purchase and businesses to provide health insurance or pay a fine. Individual penalty is 2.5 percent of gross income unless they get a waiver. Businesses that don't offer insurance pay a fine equal to 8 percent of their payroll. Businesses with a payroll of less than $500,000 are exempt from the mandate.

  • Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition. There are caps on deductibles and annual out of pocket spending is capped at $5000.

  • Eliminates the Medicare doughnut hole over ten years.

  • Allows individuals up to 27-years-old to stay on their parent’s health insurance

  • Expands Medicaid from 100 percent to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

  • Provides tax subsidies for individuals between 150 and 400 percent (sliding scale) of the Federal Poverty Level. There are also tax subsidies for small businesses.

  • As amended, it prohibits federal funds from covering abortions. Women would need to purchase riders to insurance purchased on the exchange if they wanted that coverage.

  • The bill taxes individuals making more than $500,000 and $1 million for couples. It is a 5.4 percent tax.

  • Reduces overpayments to doctors who treat Medicare Advantage patients. It is estimated they are paid 14 percent more than doctors who treat Medicare patients.

    CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

    (CBS)
    Jill Jackson is a CBS News Capitol Hill Producer. You can read more of her posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow her on Twitter.
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    Add a Comment See all 219 Comments
    by kip863 November 9, 2009 3:44 PM EST
    It would be a much easier pill to swallow if ALL including our top government representatives and employees would be included in the same system as the rest of US.
    Reply to this comment
    by DSW358 November 9, 2009 9:46 AM EST
    Small business is the backbone of employment right now...They are providing as many benefits as possible. Sometimes health benefits are earned as the employee contributes to the organization. Under the House proposal, the mandate or fine situation means that small businesses will simply have to let people go. This is for cash businesses with no debt by the way, they've already cut any excess, the only thing left is employees. Stupid House, stupid Pelosi, she's going to make Obama a one term President which is what he seems to want anyway.
    Reply to this comment
    by November 8, 2009 11:39 PM EST
    OK then, let's say that health care reform is "bad" then. We're all good
    citizens, and believe in the American way. Our taxes will continue to pay
    hundreds of dollars each for emergency room visits for issues that could
    be treated at a doctor's office. We will stay in jobs in order to maintain
    our health coverage, because we have a preexisting condition. (So much for starting your own business), we will enjoy excellent care at gleaming
    medical centers, and some of us will receive hospital bills in the hundred thousand plus range because a child or loved one has suffered
    a severe illness or injury that exceeds our coverage limits. Every family
    or individual is just one major illness away from financial disaster
    under the present system. So, best wishes, and pray that you stay healthy
    for ever.
    Reply to this comment
    by band3x November 8, 2009 9:20 PM EST
    "Individual penalty is 2.5 percent of gross income unless they get a waiver. "

    2.5% of what income? Annual? Weekly?
    Reply to this comment
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 9:55 PM EST
    Don't you love it...2.5% of your gross income, not your after tax...So...you pay a tax on taxes! Love it...This is the change you Obama backers voted for?????
    by apachekid November 8, 2009 9:09 PM EST
    With thousands of Our Troops needing reinforcements & 20% of Americans Without Jobs. Obama decides HIS Agenda is more important.

    Gets tough with Senators & Representatives that oppose his scheme. Threats, Innuendos, and more Threats from Obama's Moron, Moveon, ACORN, ACORN Holers & Homophobes, Pelosi & Reid! The Rest of The Story!

    Yesterday, the House passed a historic health care reform bill. So now, the fight moves to the Senate...and we're ready.

    Progressives pledged $3,578,117 this last week to fund primary challenges against any Democratic senator who blocks an up-or-down vote on health care reform with a public option.

    It's a huge sum, and the clearest signal yet that any Democrat who helps Republicans filibuster health care reform will face an enormous backlash from the grassroots.

    Here's another way to make sure conservatives think twice before joining with Republicans: Many of these senators hold coveted committee chairmanships that give them significant power within the Senate.

    Our friends at Democracy for America have launched an open letter urging Senate Democrats to strip committee chairmanship from any Democrat who filibusters health care.
    Reply to this comment
    by jschmidt27 November 8, 2009 5:55 PM EST
    The last CNN poll shows the Dems are on the wrong track. THis is going to hurt them in 2010 when we go to the polls to vote them out.According to the poll, 45 percent support President Barack Obama's proposals to reform health care, with 53 percent opposed to his plans. This is the first time since the president's early September prime time address a joint session of Congress on health care that a majority of people questioned in a CNN survey oppose Obama's proposals."Six in ten independents say they oppose Obama's health care proposals," says Holland. "That's a nine point increase since October."
    Reply to this comment
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 5:59 PM EST
    jschmidt27...Rasmussen has been showing this for some time...This actually has big ramifications as CNN consistently over samples Democrats!
    by jschmidt27 November 8, 2009 6:02 PM EST
    dlmsharpshoo- I agree. CNN is part of state run media and if they are showing it then the Dems are really in trouble.
    But we still need to fit this and make sure our Senators vote against it. Unfortunately in CT we have Dodd who is for it and Liberman who is against the public option. So at least we have one good one and we are trying to get rid of Dodd. Next in 2010 we better work to make sure the we get non-Democrats in office to stop this nonsense of bankrupting our country and turning us into a nanny state. And this also goes for state govt as well. In CT the Dems control the state legislature and with their overwhelming majority they are on course to send the state deeper in debt. Three months into the fiscal year and we over 300 million over budget. If you look at those states controlled by the Dems, they're in the same boat. So we need to turn out in support against these Democrat pushed causes. If you can't afford to donate, volunteer. But if we stand by and do nothing, we will only have ourselves to blame.
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 5:31 PM EST
    To everyone posting, no matter what your preference or political persuasion is, I urge you to go to this web page (http://www.usdebtclock.org/) and spend a little time there....Don't worry about the past or present, who to blame or not, but only consider what the future will look like for your children. Then think about the out of control spending by our government and it's impact on this number. Note: This is without healthcare reform (another $1.2Trillion). Now tell me that I am only thinking of myself...This is all of our problem....When there is no more revenue sources to cover this debt, no one, and I mean no one (including those in need today) will have anything....And China will own us...This is real people.
    Reply to this comment
    by reveal4 November 8, 2009 5:44 PM EST
    The President is doing what he can to lower healthcare costs as percentage of future GDP. Her is also doing all he can to wean America from foreign oil and the roughly 300 billion dollars that leaves our economy annualy en route to foreign sources. The President is doing all he can to get the economy into a financially stable position and growth has begun...3.5% in the last quarter. The healthcare reform bill will not add to the deficit or debt according to the CBO. Also, lkong term costs will lessen. The CBO has estimates that cost savings from reform will be 10's of billions in the first ten years and 100's of billions in the second ten years per the Senate finance bill. Reform should, whatever the final bill, reduce the deficit and reduce costs substantially over the coming decades. Thereby lessening the economic disaster inherited by this administration. The healthcare reform bill will reduce the our debt. And I'm done blogging for today. Happy Sunday.
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 5:57 PM EST
    reveal4...What are you smoking????....Has the President opened drilling off our shores?.. No, but he can provide $2B of our dollars to Brazil to help their economy..Has he provided leadership towards expanding nuclear energy capabilities?...No...So don't say he is doing all he can...On healthcare, the only way it reaches the point you point out is through higher taxes/fees, reduction in services and by taking in dollars from you and I for 5 years until the actual services kicks in and with the impact on business, GDP will likely drop (companies out of business or moving overseas) and expanding healthcare coverage will actually grow healthcare as a percent of GDP....Lastly, the 3.5% GDP growth for the last quarter was driven, in part by "Cash for Clunkers" and "First time homebuyers", both of which are either over, and/or are un-sustainable....Man, you have got to get out of the "kool-aid" camp!
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 5:23 PM EST
    fedup12...FYI on the Post Office: from the National Press Club 10/09/09: U.S. Postal Service in acute financial crisis, Postmaster General says
    The 234-year-old U.S. Postal Service is in acute financial crisis, John Potter, the 72nd Postmaster General said Thursday during a National Press Club luncheon.

    After losing a projected $7 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Potter said he is working to help the USPS reinvent itself. It won?t be an easy task, as 28 billion fewer pieces of mail were sent last year compared to fiscal year 2008, he said. Potter said that holiday mail, one of the traditionally highest volume periods of the year, was flat last year ? and he expects it to be flat this December, as well.

    Oh and here is a "non-Rush" bit of info on Amtrak: The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak (reporting mark AMTK), is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a blend of the words "America" and "track".[1] It is headquartered at Union Station in Washington, DC.[2]

    All of Amtrak's preferred stock is owned by the U.S. federal government. The members of its board of directors are appointed by the President of the United States and are subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.

    And don't forget Fannie and Freddie, mortgage businesses that you are subsidizing too. (Look at the Federal budget at www.cbo.gov.

    Sorry, more facts than you can handle, but someone's got to help you out.
    Reply to this comment
    by reveal4 November 8, 2009 4:31 PM EST
    You folks just do not understand fact and truth. Sorry, but you folks would wear out Superman. This is what I say...If you need something to hang on to...Hang on to the facts. The facts never let you down. Even if it is a hard truth, it is the truth. If you don't know who to trust...trust the facts. If you can comprehend factual reality. Reform is clearly stated in numerous CBS articles today. The facts about the National debt are clear, obvious, and historical. The facts about the house bill are clear, obvious, and historical. If...if....you know the difference.
    Reply to this comment
    by dlmsharpshoo November 8, 2009 5:38 PM EST
    Reveal4...Just noticed that those you are accusing of "wearing out Superman" are actually providing real sources of fact vs. the made up facts you continue to spout..And boy, they sound a lot like the Democratic liberal "talking points" used on people they hope don't check facts!....Where are your sources????
    by cb621 November 8, 2009 4:20 PM EST
    Reveal4 you make a good point. Unfortunately, we now have an administration in place that will financially bury us. We need someone in office that will reduce spending and work agressively towards balancing the budget again. Obama is going to spend until the country financially collapses if we let him.
    Reply to this comment
    See all 219 Comments

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