The health care bill explained

[heckofajobbrownie]

Here's a good look at the health care bill, what it does, when the varying parts kick in, and who is paying for it. Hopefully it will help talk some of you down off a ledge. You may disagree with it, but it's really not that scary.

Health care graphic

[heckofajobbrownie]

Here's another good column on the bill, especially for those of you who bought that "this bill controls 1/6th of our economy" talking point.

[heckofajobbrownie]

And here's what goes into effect immediately:

- No child under 19 will be excluded from plans because of preexisting conditions.

- No more caps on how much care the insured will be able to receive in a single year.

- Adults with preexisting conditions will be able to start shopping online for a plan in a national high-risk pool while waiting for insurance exchanges to get started.

- Small business can deduct as much as 50 percent of employees’ health benefits for tax purposes in 2009 and 2010.

- No more “donut hole” of Medicare prescription drug coverage with a rebate.

- Insurers will have to post their balance sheets online, listing administrative costs, executive compensation packages, and benefit payments.

- You can no longer be dropped from your insurance plan just because you get sick.

The HORROR!

[SiperBowl]

this video explains everything

[Kosar_For_President]

@heckofajobbrownie said:

Here's a good look at the health care bill, what it does, when the varying parts kick in, and who is paying for it. Hopefully it will help talk some of you down off a ledge. You may disagree with it, but it's really not that scary.

Health care graphic

So say I make 46K a year I pay around $250/mo? Where I was working before I was paying $120/mo through work. How does help me Heck. This is more confusing then my HMO plan. What about COBRA?

I mean I guess this will help business, but the cost is thrown onto the employee? Right?

Heck I have been trying to say objective, I am sure you have noticed that. I saw some specifics, but this looks like the shit end of the stick for the middle class and upper.

[Kosar_For_President]

T, please be objective here, how does this effect your business? It's done with, let's speak business here, how does this help you and people looking for jobs and your hiring outlook.

[Pumpkin Eater]

@kosar_for_president said:

So say I make 46K a year I pay around $250/mo? Where I was working before I was paying $120/mo through work. How does help me Heck. This is more confusing then my HMO plan. What about COBRA?

I mean I guess this will help business, but the cost is thrown onto the employee? Right?

Heck I have been trying to say objective, I am sure you have noticed that. I saw some specifics, but this looks like the shit end of the stick for the middle class and upper.

This is what ALWAYS happens when the Government gets involved.

[Chicopee John]

@kosar_for_president said:

So say I make 46K a year I pay around $250/mo? Where I was working before I was paying $120/mo through work. How does help me Heck. This is more confusing then my HMO plan. What about COBRA?

I mean I guess this will help business, but the cost is thrown onto the employee? Right?

Heck I have been trying to say objective, I am sure you have noticed that. I saw some specifics, but this looks like the shit end of the stick for the middle class and upper.

I haven't studied it enough to give an educated answer. However, you might be mixing up how much the plan/policy, itself, costs vs. the % of that cost paid by the company vs. the % paid by the employee. Truth be told, I am a bit confused by that after looking at the LA Times piece. Don't even know if or how I will be impacted by my (wife's) current plan.

PS Although Heck has been annointed official 'subject matter expert' on this bill, it's a bit unfair to expect him to explain every feature. In time, I believe, better and more comprehensive explanations will be provided.

Just my stupid 2-cents.

[Kosar_For_President]

You know what's going to happen. People are going to pay the $695 and still use emergency rooms as their clinic. It's cheaper that way. Instead of the lower class doing this or people without insurance, you are going to see visits from the middle class paying the $695 fine because it's cheaper. What will that do to credit rating for the middle class? Who's going to by that foreclosed home now?

Disclaimer: Just speculation based on what I have read.

[Kosar_For_President]

@chicopee-john said:

I haven't studied it enough to give an educated answer. However, you might be mixing up how much the plan/policy, itself, costs vs. the % of that cost paid by the company vs. the % paid by the employee. Truth be told, I am a bit confused by that after looking at the LA Times piece. Don't even know if or how I will be impacted by my (wife's) current plan.

Thanks John, I guess i don't understand well at this point. I wish people would stop fighting over shit they don't understand and start explaining why they feel the way they do in terms of the actual bill.

[heckofajobbrownie]

@kosar_for_president said:

So say I make 46K a year I pay around $250/mo? Where I was working before I was paying $120/mo through work. How does help me Heck. This is more confusing then my HMO plan. What about COBRA?

I mean I guess this will help business, but the cost is thrown onto the employee? Right?

Heck I have been trying to say objective, I am sure you have noticed that. I saw some specifics, but this looks like the shit end of the stick for the middle class and upper.

I can't really tell what you're saying in your example. You're self-employed now and making $46,000 and paying $250 a month? And before you were making _____ and paying $120?

If you're still employed, nothing changes for you. Except your coverage is more secure.

If you're in the individual market nothing really changes either, unless you qualify for subsidies. And that makes the coverage more affordable, not less.

But again, I can't really tell what you're saying.

[Mr. T]

@kosar_for_president said:

T, please be objective here, how does this effect your business? It's done with, let's speak business here, how does this help you and people looking for jobs and your hiring outlook.

Well due to the lack of business and how its has not been stimulated, when I strat to hire folks they will only be part timers or maye I can go the route of hiring contract workers.

[Kosar_For_President]

@heckofajobbrownie said:

I can't really tell what you're saying in your example. You're self-employed now and making $46,000 and paying $250 a month? And before you were making _____ and paying $120?

If you're still employed, nothing changes for you. Except your coverage is more secure.

If you're in the individual market nothing really changes either, unless you qualify for subsidies. And that makes the coverage more affordable, not less.

But again, I can't really tell what you're saying.

Sorry Heck. I used to make 46k, I don't give a shit, I tell everyone what I make/made, I never understood people are secretive about that shit. I paid $120/mo with the employer paying about $240/mo.

Now I'm unemployed making about 35% of that and pay $132/mo for the COBRA plan with the government picking up 60% of the bill. So I am making 35% of what I used to now, and pay more for health care then I did with my old job.

Thanks

[Kosar_For_President]

@mr.-t said:

Well due to the lack of business and how its has not been stimulated, when I strat to hire folks they will only be part timers or maye I can go the route of hiring contract workers.

Wouldn't the bill help you hire though, full time?

[Mr. T]

@kosar_for_president said:

Wouldn't the bill help you hire though, full time?

Not sure, but we shall see. MeanwhileI need to get back to work, my mexicans got deported last night.

[Mr. T]

Kosar, since your on vacation right now would you mind taking little O back to Disney for me? He had such a great time the last time he went.

[heckofajobbrownie]

How long ago was your old job? This is sort of the point - health care costs keep going up year after year. It's no surprise that you're paying more, even with the government picking up some of your tab.

You'd also have to figure that you got less money in salary from your former employer because he also paid you in health benefits.

Tough to extract everything in terms of cost. But it seems pretty clear that if you're making 35% of your former pay you're going to be eligible for subsidies. And that will make your coverage less expensive than it would have been.

Health care insurance will always be expensive. This isn't a magic pill. It's an effort to extend coverage to those who can't afford it, and to make everyone's coverage more secure. In return for that, the insurance companies get lots of new customers.

[Kosar_For_President]

@mr.-t said:

Not sure, but we shall see. MeanwhileI need to get back to work, my mexicans got deported last night.

Just let me know T. I am sure those Mexican's can't process advanced variable print, CASS certify mail, set up PURLS, plan and implement marketing campaigns, run pre-press, run and upkeep every type of digital equipment in their sleep or perform advanced graphic design and design websites.

[Mr. T]

@kosar_for_president said:

Just let me know T. I am sure those Mexican's can't process advanced variable print, CASS certify mail, set up PURLS, plan and implement marketing campaigns, run pre-press, run and upkeep every type of digital equipment in their sleep or perform advanced graphic design and design websites.

Well they were working on that, they have been atending the local community college for cheap.

[Kosar_For_President]

@mr.-t said:

Well they were working on that, they have been atending the local community college for cheap.

Yea because education always trumps 14 years of work experience.