Senate Health Care Bill: Who and What it’s all About

The Senate health care bill (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) was unveiled this week and, according to Senator Harry Reid (D – Nev), it “makes health care more affordable while reducing the federal deficit.” He went on to say, “We can’t afford to overlook what this is really all about… we can’t afford to overlook who this is all about.”

The bill is aimed at cutting the deficit by $130 billion and to insuring 31 million more Americans. It includes the formation of insurance exchanges and a public option — weakened with an “opt out” clause for states. The bill also includes a mandate for most individuals to purchase insurance, a mandate for employers with more than 50 employees, and a tax on “Cadillac” plans. Insurers would no longer be able to cancel coverage when you get sick or to deny coverage due to a pre-existing condition. There is an expansion of Medicaid eligibility and, for seniors, a narrowing of the Medicare donut hole.

The cost is expected to be $849 billion over 10 years, partially paid for with a Medicare payroll tax hike for those earning over $200,000 and a tax on elective cosmetic surgery; $420 billion in cuts from Medicare and Medicaid spending and $118 billion from Medicare Advantage; and $300 billion from new taxes and fees on insurers, manufacturers of health care devices, and laboratories.

The recently passed House bill caused an uproar among liberal Democrats with the inclusion of the Stupak amendment, restricting women’s access to abortion beyond current law. The Senate bill is more aligned with existing law on abortion, but this promises to be a divisive issue if the Senate bill moves forward.

Saturday is scheduled to be a full day of debate followed by the first vote on whether or not to bring the bill to the Senate floor. “We’ve been working to reform health care since the first half of the last century,” said Senator Reid, “We’re now in the home stretch.”

Senator Reid may be calling it the home stretch, but it’s not really the home stretch until a bill passes in the Senate and the real work can begin — the melding of the House and Senate bills for a final vote. In any case, it should prove to be another very interesting weekend on the hill.

In the meantime, let’s not forget what and who health care reform is about:

Closed Minds Shout Down Disabled Woman in Wheelchair

Young Man Dies for Lack of Public Option

6 Shockers about Women’s Health Care

Toddler Too Small for Health Insurance

Rape Victim Deemed Uninsurable for Seeking Treatment for Rape

Greedy Insurers Dumping the “Dogs”

Man Joins Army to Save Wife’s Life

Get my updates on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo

Photo: Reid.Senate.Gov

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Julian L.

11:08PM PST on Dec 27, 2009

I just need to say, to everyone who thinks all social programs are automatically bad: you are wrong

I am a Canadian. Our government run, public, SOCIALISED health care is in fact reliable, efficient, and effective. Of course the government often is poor at running social programs, but if they are given a chance and closely monitored by you the voters, they will be able to get it right. It might take time, but trust me when I tell you it will be for the best.

send a green star

Georgia L.

3:01PM PST on Dec 19, 2009

I just unsubscribed from Harry's mailing list which I got on who knows how and told him why. Public option gone, import cheaper drugs from Canada gone, forced insurance in. I'm gone.

James C.

12:05AM PST on Dec 13, 2009

Thomas Jefferson recommended revolution!

Brian J.

2:40PM PST on Dec 3, 2009

The government has no business in health care and they surely have no business forcing me to purchase health care. People who are looking towards the government to solve there health care issues have there head stuck in the sand. The government can't run anything well and it is not there job to do this. You think the system is bad now...give it to them to run, you will be begging them to get out of your life!
Lastly, I am tired of people comparing health insurance to car insurance, apples and oranges,car insurance is to protect other motorists from your lousy driving,minimum coverage is all you are mandated to have,health insurance is to ease YOUR financial burden in the event of a serious illness (which we all know we have occur everyday,yeah right).Driving is a privelidge not a right so in reality you dont have to have car insurance at all if you CHOOSE not to drive. This crap the democrats are trying to force down our throats will mandate thateveryone WILL have to purchase some form of insurance or face sanctions, do you really want this can of worms that is the prelude to the loss of our constitutional rights and the road to socialism....really, ask yourself, is that what you truly want...if your answer is yes, then you should move to Europe...NOW

Jaette C.

8:41PM PST on Nov 27, 2009

Better yet, I'm waiting for a group of hearty souls in the Medical field, Docs, nurses and techs to say, enough is enough, and come out with a stream lined, no frills health system leaving out the middle man. Strictly between clinic and patient. Hhhmmm?

8:38PM PST on Nov 27, 2009

I was thinking today as I finally was forced into getting a cell phone. Yes, I say forced because my fairly new and safe car wouldn't start one rainy cold day that I had my daughter with special needs in the car. Grubbed up change to use the phone at McDonalds which of course did not work, and needed to beg cell phone use from several strangers to get help. All too unsafe and I did not know if my daughter would lose it or not.(she didn't bless her heart) But today as I was getting the cell phone from verizon, I marveled at the quick contracted, salesmanship and complete set up of the device. I thought to myself, cripes if health care companies and therefore health care reform could only be so efficient, we would have no problem. Lets start thinking way out of the box with not only drive through scripts, but drive through Doctor checks. Take your temp, feel your pulse, diagnose write and fill you prescription, no room charge etc. This could even happen with psych Doc's, 'Doc, I'm feeling a little blue' Better yet, how about a Doc that could treat you and your cat in the same visit. Let's get stream lined to save some dough. It really is time to get this health care reform moving or we'll all be batty.

11:36PM PST on Nov 26, 2009

The health care bill will wind up benefiting the insurance companies. If we really want health care reform, we need to fire all the insurance salesmen (and saleswomen) and provide health care to everyone, not insurance to everyone.

Paul P.

7:11PM PST on Nov 26, 2009

Thank Roger H,

For you and those interested in the number of lobbyist involved in these bills, I posted an article from the Associated Press that covers the meetings held by the White House since inauguration with lobbyists from those pushing these health care bills.

Assuming that I can successfully post the link, here it is:

http://www.care2.com/news/member/735593191/1315247

5:36PM PST on Nov 26, 2009

Steven Riddle,
I like your ideas. They are true health care reform with a reasonable method of paying for it.
But if Congress continues and passes a compromise bill of the House and Senate bills, all we are going to get is more government control over the current health care model that we needed reformed in the first place and additional taxes and penalties on people that can't afford health insurance now.
We can never get the needed health care reform as long as the health insurance industry is allowed to lobby against it and continue to give huge amounts of money to both the Democrat and Republican parties as campaign contributions. They are in the pockets of every member of Congress and even our President.
Paul Puckett, you have hit the nail on the head in your posts.

4:28PM PST on Nov 26, 2009

Pa H, not to quibble on Thanksgiving, but a couple of additions to your close, so that it reads,

"Defined by the government, administered by the industry under the rules of Congress and the States, delivered by the industry, it is a monopoly as a result of exemptions from the regulations that control other companies, like the Anti-Trust exemption which allows insurance companies to fix prices in collusion with their "competitors". Operating and controlled by regulations drafted by Congress and the States, Insurance companies are among the most regulated industries in the United States

Also, the fundamental basis of insurance is that most people pay premiums and never get anything back. That will not change under a Government plan whether based on premiums or taxes. Most people will not get back a benefit comparable to what they put in. Anyone who dies of a sudden heart attack or any other cause, that does not involve treatment, will have paid
premiums without benefits.

That makes sense given that nobody knows what will happen in the future, which is why they buy insurance in the first place.