Time, Cost Weigh On Dems' Plan To Overhaul Health Care Now

IBD Editorials ^ | July 7, 2009 | DAVID HOGBERG

[Kaslin]

Back from their July 4 recess, congressional Democrats face crunch time on health care reform.

The House and Senate are under pressure to pass legislation before a monthlong break in early August. After that, federal budget work will make reform much more difficult.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have been scrambling since the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office scored Sen. Ted Kennedy's partial plan at $1 trillion over 10 years.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., acting head of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in place of the ailing Kennedy, negotiated a revised — but still incomplete — plan that now costs only $600 billion. It cuts off insurance subsidies at 400% of the federal poverty level from the initial 500%.

Also lowering the price tag: $88 billion in revenue from employer and individual mandates. Firms with 25 or more employees would pay an annual fine for each employee that isn't offered insurance: $750 per full-time worker and $375 per part-time worker.

"We're against mandates, period," said Amanda Austin, director of federal public policy at the National Federation of Independent Businesses. "It doesn't address the fundamental issue of cost — it's a band-aid at best."

As written, Kennedy's plan would leave 36 million uninsured. A big Medicaid expansion will likely be added, but that could raise the final tally to $1 trillion or more.

Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus reportedly has trimmed his plan to $1 trillion — from $1.6 trillion — by ending subsidies at 300% of the poverty line.

[Kaslin]

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[Kaslin]

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[VRW Conspirator]

Let’s give free health care to all the illegal immigrants along with an unconditional path to citizenship! Today!

I can’t wait for cap and trade! Yipeeeeee!

[reefdiver]

This has to be defeated. This is Govt control of American lives. Worse it's Liberal control of every aspect of life. Health care will be tax paid abortion on demand, control over what you eat, drink, and soon in the future, how long you should live if you become a burden that rahm emanuel can do with out. This is total control from the state. Marxism here and now if this is not stopped.

[BunnySlippers]

I asked about illegals and Atlantic Magazine answered my question. Very smuggly they said that illegals will only get emergency care, but will not be covered for healthcare.

In CA ... Los Angeles, we are being crippled by illegals using emergency rooms as their REGULAR healthcare. They come in saying they are in distress and get it
FREE.

Don’t be bamboozled by those who claim illegals will only get emergency care... that’s what they do not.

It has gone a LONG way to bankrupting CA.

[lowbridge]

$1 trillion over 10 years.M

Government speak for 20 trillion in real world dollars.

[Man50D]

Pour on the pressure folks! Contact the politicians night and day via phone, email and faxes! Don't let up! Toll free capital switchboard numbers are below.

800-828-0498

877-762-8762

[Prince of Space]

I work in a hospital here in Phoenix. Amazing how many of our patients cannot speak English, and yes, they have no insurance. They come to the ER and often are admitted. Does that constitute "regular healthcare" or is that emergency care? If the latter, how is that different from their new plan?

And how stupid do these politicians think we are?

Mrs. Prince of Space

[socialismisinsidious]

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