Somebody tell me more about the bill. How does it affect me?

[dolphins4life]

The House just passed the bill.

First tell me how the bill changes health care.  What does it do?

I'm a college student.  I save a lot of my money since I don't drink.  I will be covered by my parents until I'm 26.

After that, how much more will I have to pay for health insurance than I normally would have, if I can't get a job that provides it for me?

I think of all my college student friends who blow their money.  They will be able to get one of those special deals MA offers, but because I save my money, I will have to pay out of pocket.  That doesn't seem fair.

Could this bill be repealed if it doesn't work?

[Dave Gray]

Anything can be repealed, sure.   But realistically, I think it's extremely unlikely.  You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.  Medicare could get repealed, too, but it just ain't happenin'.

The idea behind how it will lower costs is this: (not arguing that it will work -- just stating what the claims are from supporters)

You currently pay a lot for health insurance for a few reasons:
1) People without health insurance are not turned away when they go to hospitals for emergencies.  Those fees cause the price of hospitals and doctors to go up to compensate.  That cost is passed on to you.

2) Young and healthy people are less likely to buy health insurance than people who are old and sick.  Because it's so expensive, young people (who would use insurance less) risk it.  This raises the per-person cost of insurance.  Then, adding to that problem is the young people who risked it and got hurt or sick.

So, by insuring a larger chunk of the population, the per-person cost of health care will go down.



I don't know how the new money will be allocated or how any of that will work.

[Defense54]

About the only posistive I see , is that if it acually does make the price go down, maybe companies can start manufacturing goods again in the USA instead of sending it overseas. Insurance co$t$ was a big issue to why these companies bolted .

[Buddhagirl]

Here's a link that let's you put in your info and find out how it will affect you:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/

[SportsChick]

nice link, thanks buddah

[bsmooth]

We still have to see if it makes it out of the Senate or fails under reconcilliation.

[Buddhagirl]

nice link, thanks buddah

You're welcome!

[Dave Gray]

This isn't really the government takeover that it's painted to be.  The public option was ditched some time ago, so this is more of an insurance reform bill.

It includes new regulations, requirements, and some subsidies, and tax increases for the ends of the financial spectrum.  It's also supposed to include some small business tax cuts for providing insurance.

[StL FinFan]

What I want to know is, when the health insurance requirement kicks in, what is going to happen to people who simply cannot afford it?  Will there still be medicaid?  This is confusing.

[bsmooth]

What I want to know is, when the health insurance requirement kicks in, what is going to happen to people who simply cannot afford it?  Will there still be medicaid?  This is confusing.

The premiums are based on your income. It is not a fixed rate.

[StL FinFan]

The premiums are based on your income. It is not a fixed rate.

What if you are unemployed?

[Spider-Dan]

Then your income is (near) zero, and your premiums will be priced accordingly (most likely: free).

[StL FinFan]

The reason that I ask is that I have a relative that is "on the fringe" and is very worried about being forced to purchase health insurance.  She lives in a home that belonged to her parents so it is paid for but she struggles to pay her utilities.  She keeps her thermostat just warm enough in the winter to keep her pipes from freezing and does not use her air conditioning at all.

[bsmooth]

The reason that I ask is that I have a relative that is "on the fringe" and is very worried about being forced to purchase health insurance.  She lives in a home that belonged to her parents so it is paid for but she struggles to pay her utilities.  She keeps her thermostat just warm enough in the winter to keep her pipes from freezing and does not use her air conditioning at all.

I am currently on a $1300 a month pension. I will lose my unemployment when I go back to school to get retrained through VA. I am wondering how much I will have to pay as there is a $14,400 threshold for single with no dependants.

[Spider-Dan]

bsmooth, the link that Buddhagirl posted shows what you would pay (single person with income of $15,600):

Beginning in 2014, you will receive tax credits to help afford insurance premiums in the new exchanges as well as assistance with deductibles and co-payments. According to your income and family size, the tax credits will  ensure you do not spend more than $468 to $624 on premiums. Your maximum out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and co-payments would be capped at 6% of the total cost.

Keep in mind that preventative care will have zero deductible or co-pay costs (by law) under the new system.

When discussing the costs, it is also important to note that under the current (or rather, old) system, if an uninsured non-independently-wealthy person were to become seriously sick, they would likely:

a) be bankrupted
b) die
c) both

So it is crucial to frame the discussion with the understanding that under the new system, becoming seriously ill will no longer bankrupt you and potentially ruin your life.

Yes, this new system will have greater costs for many people.  But I think it's worth it.