1. The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the bills like the single-payer system in Canada.

2.Insurance companies will be regulated more heavily

3. Everyone will have to have health insurance or pay a fine, a requirement known as the individual mandate

4. Employers will not be required to buy insurance for their employees, but large employers may be subject to fines if they don't provide insurance

5. The vast majority of people will not see significant declines in premiums.

6. The plan might or might not bend the curve on health spending

7. The government-run Medicare program will keep paying medical bills for seniors, but it will begin implementing cost controls on health care providers, mostly through penalties and incentives

8. Medicaid, a joint federal-state program for the poor, will cover all of the poor, instead of just a few groups the way it currently does.

9. The government won't pay for elective abortions

10. No one is proposing new benefits for illegal immigrants

....read more details at the Pullitzer Prize winning,, politifact.com

Thank you for the info.

When I read number one 1, I kinda chuckle...people don't realize just how close the federal government came to completely taking over the auto and banking industries. What about AIG and Fannie and Freddie. What if this does cause insurers profits to disappear...will they get a bailout....I don't think so...goes back to the singel payer idea for government take over.

BS.

number 1. The government intends to take money from you to pay for my insurance. (form of single payer) And it will fine me (I don't want the dammmm insurance) or put me in jail (I DON'T WANT THE DAMMMM INSURANCE).

number 2. Government will heavily regulate the insurance industry(sounds like a government take over to me).

number 3. Yep the individual mandate (I loose my right of responsible free choice and folks celebrate... aint life grand).

number 4. I have lost my freedom so 6% of Americans can get a handout.

number 5. The vast majority will see increases in premimums as insurance companies try to make up profit lost because of the loss of revenue from prexisting conditions.

I think that bout covers it.

Once you filter out the pretty words and dig into the meat of the bill you see it for what it is. Outhouse paper.

but hey.

I have lost my freedom.

I am waiting for november to change that fact in a peaceful way.

If november makes no difference I intend to change that fact the way my ancestors did.

1.the government isnt going to pay for your insurance with my money, I am insured so I will only be paying my own insurance,,,and those who pay a tax,,will pay a TAX,, which will go towards all types of things just as every tax does....they dont syphon off portions of my tax ,, they use the whole of TAXES combined and then decide how to spend them,,,,,my tax is already part of the pool that pays for schools and highways and medicare and medicade, I dont get to decide to opt out of ANY of it when I pay a tax

4. Its not a handout,,everyone will still have to PURCHASE insurance,,there will just be a cheaper option added to those already existing

no pretty words there, just clear , unbiased, facts....

and , btw, how did your ancestors change 'LAWS' they didnt agree with?

Mine marched and protested and took part in the political process,,,

So while I don't wish any such things upon you 'AB', what happens in the event where you had an accident, or became ill, such that you needed extensive long care???

Are you financially independently, such that you could afford that care on you own, or is it the rest of the people, through medicare, that is going to be stuck with your potential health bill?

No one is immune to illness, and no one is accident proof!!!

I'm not so clear on this. So how will the homeless get health care if they can't even afford housing? How will people be penalized?
If someone works for minimum wage at a small independent business, or is the sole contributor of income with 3 kids how do they pay for health care. Will Rx's be paid? Will the pharmo companies be more regulated (see psot 'Costco" from last wkend) Am CURIOUS, not questioning it. Want to know how this works and get lost in all the mumbo jumbo wording in the bill. TIA Ms.H.

I don't understand. People get all upset because we're catching up taking care of those who need coverage but don't oppose trillions spent on war, lives lost or families torn up due to what that causes?
or spend infinite amounts on space investagating dead planets, or get upset that we put farmers out of work by buying wheat and other from countries and the list goes on; which all comes out of our taxes.. They all grumble when it comes to doing the right thing? sheesh.

Here's today's information, Shasta:

6. You Must be Insured

Under the new law starting in 2014, you will have to purchase health insurance or risk being fined. If your employer does not offer health insurance as a benefit or if you do not earn enough money to purchase a plan, you may get assistance from the government. The fines for not purchasing insurance will be levied according to a sliding scale based on income. Starting in 2014, the lowest fine would be $95 or 1% of a person's income (whichever is greater) and then increase to a high of $695 or 2.5% of an individual's taxable income by 2016. There will be a maximum cap on fines.

7. You'll Have More Options

Starting in 2014 (when you will be required by law to have health insurance), states will operate new insurance marketplaces - called "exchanges" - that will provide you with more options for buying an individual policy if you can't get, or afford, insurance from your workplace and you earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid. In addition, millions of low- and middle-income families (earning up to $88,200 annually) will be able to qualify for financial assistance from the federal government to purchase insurance through their state exchange.

8. Flexible Spending Accounts Will Become Less Flexible

Three years from now, flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will have lower contribution limits - meaning you won't be able to have as much money deducted from your paycheck pre-tax and deposited into an FSA for medical expenses as is currently allowed. The new maximum amount allowed will be $2,500. In addition, fewer expenses will qualify for FSA spending. For example, you will no longer be able to use your FSA to help defray the cost of over-the-counter drugs.

9. If You Earn More, You'll Pay More

Starting in 2018, if your combined family income exceeds $250,000 you are going to be taking less money home each pay period. That's because you will have more money deducted from your paycheck to go toward increased Medicare payroll taxes. In addition to higher payroll taxes you will also have to pay 3.8% tax on any unearned income, which is currently tax-exempt.


http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109178/10-ways-the-new-healthcare-bill-may-affect-you?mod=family-love_money

Thank you sincerely Winx, the info is just what needed.