COMPARISON OF WHITE HOUSE AND SENATE PLANS FOR HEALTH COVERAGE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS
	White House Waiver Plan	Bipartisan Senate Bill
Eligibility Rules	Varies State by State Each states choose home state or suggested set of eligibility rules, adults without children, even if impoverished, are excluded unless elderly or disabled.	Nationwide Eligibility is for all poor adults, children, pregnant women and Social Security Disability Insurance recipients with income below 200% of poverty are eligible.
Resource Test	Varies State by State States decide whether to impose assets test, can exclude or delay eligibility due to unknown status of assets left behind in affected states.	None
Duration of Coverage	No More Than 5 Months	Up to 10 Months
Timing	Uncertain Only provided if the state where the survivor goes applies, negotiates for, and gets a waiver by January.	Immediate States can begin to provide coverage as soon as the law is enacted, no state plan amendment or waiver needed.
General Benefits	Could Be Less Than State's Benefits. Can provide additional benefits, but may also allow for a reduced package for Katrina survivors.	Must Be At Least State's Benefits. Can provide supplemental mental health services and care coordination services needed by Katrina survivors; home and community-based services available beyond current waiver limits.
Benefits for Children	Scaled Back Poor children may be put in SCHIP which can have limited benefits, significant cost sharing, waiting lists.	Comprehensive Maintains Medicaid benefits for poor children.
Federal Funding Mechanism	Unknown Current Federal matching rate, "The President is working with Congress" to reimburse states for their share, could vary by state.	Guaranteed 100% Federal Medicaid Payments Authorized by Congress with no need for state applications.
Timing	Bill Now, Get Paid Later	Immediate
Funding Mechanism for Uncompensated Care by Health Providers	State-Created Pool States may - or may not - create an uncompensated care pool.	National Approach Congress would create a pool to fund uncompensated care and increase Medicare bad debt payments to hospitals in affected areas.
Timing	Uncertain	Immediate
Change in Federal Medicaid and CHIP Matching Rates	None	100% for LA, MS, affected AL counties through 2006. Cancellation of Reduction in Rates for All States for FY 2006.
Timeline changes for Medicare recipients in affected states	None	Delays Part B Late Enrollment Penalty in Affected States, Requires Administration Plan for Drug Transition for Dual Eligibles.

Source: A memo obtained from Congressional sources and reviewed for accuracy by Consumers Union.