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The Committee on Energy and Commerce in the US House of Representatives released a report in March stating the benefits of Health Care Reform for Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District.
“I look forward to reviewing the final language of the bill,” said Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10). “I continue to fight for the health insurance legislation that ensures affordability, denies insurers the option of rejecting people with preexisting conditions and enables people to take their insurance with them when they change jobs.”
Not all are in favor of the bill, which the House may be taking to a vote on Sunday.
“This report is one gigantic fraud, beginning with its statement, ‘the legislation reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next ten years,’ an arguement they construct by counting ten years of tax revenue against six years of benefit expense,” said Tom J. Shepstone, of Shepstone Management Company, a consulting firm based in Honesdale.
Judith Murphy member of the Wayne County Council of Republican Women joined more than 200 other Republican women leaders from across the nation at the National Federation of Republican Women board meeting in Oklahoma City, March 12-13. They unanimously passed a resolution rejecting government-run health care and calling for market-oriented reform solutions.
Rep. Carney, however, pressed for the measures being touted by supporters.
“We must also close the prescription drug ‘donut hole’ for our seniors, ensure that federal funds can’t go to pay for abortions and guarantee that maternity care is covered so that we protect our mothers and unborn children,” Rep. Carney said.
“As a cancer survivor, I was fortunate not to have been kicked off my health insurance plan because of my so-called preexisting conditions. But countless others throughout our region don’t have that assurance. We must resolve that problem, give families the choices they have been badly lacking and bring affordability into a system that has run out of control,” he said.
The report cites data taken from the US Census; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Department of Health and Human Services; The Health Resources and Services Administration; and the Congressional Budget Office.
Each section of the report is broken down:
Reform
Approximately 62 percent (406,000 residents in PA-10) receives health care coverage from an employer or through policies purchased on the individual market. Under the legislation, individuals with insurance can keep the coverage they have now. The insurance reforms in the bill prohibit annual and lifetime limits, eliminate rescissions for individuals who become ill while insured, ban coverage denials for pre-existing conditions, and reduce the cost of preventive care.
To rein in soaring insurance costs, the reforms also limit the amount insurance companies can spend on administrative expenses, profits and other overhead.
Tax cuts
Those who do not receive health care coverage through their employer will be able to purchase coverage at group rates through the new health insurance exchange.
To make this insurance affordable, the legislation contains the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in history, providing middle class families with incomes up to $88,000 for a family of four with tax credits to help pay for coverage in the exchange. For a family of four making $50,000, the average tax credit will be approximately $5,800.
There are 179,000 households in the district that could qualify for these credits if they purchase health insurance through the exchange or, in the case of households with income below 133 percent of poverty, receive coverage from Medicaid.
Pre-existing conditions
There are 7,900 uninsured individuals in the district who have pre-existing medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Under the bill’s insurance reforms, they cannot be denied affordable coverage.
Bankruptcies
There were 800 health-related bankruptcies in the district in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs by insurance. The legislation caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $6,200 for individuals and $12,400 for families who purchase insurance through the exchange or who are insured by small businesses. It also eliminates annual and lifetime limits on all insurance coverage.
Improving Medicare
There are 122,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district. The legislation improves their benefits by providing free preventive and wellness care, improving primary and coordinated care, and enhancing nursing home care. The bill also strengthens the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its solvency from 2017 to 2026.
Part D donut hole
Each year, 11,500 Medicare beneficiaries in the district enter the Part D donut hole and are forced to pay the full cost o their prescription drugs. Under the bill, these beneficiaries will receive a $250 rebate in 2010, 50% discounts on brand name drugs beginning in 2011, will see savings of over $700 in 2011 and over $3,000 by 2020.
Young adult options
The legislation will allow young adults to stay on their parents’ policies until they are 26. There are 45,000 young adults in the district who can benefit from this option.
Small Businesses
Under the legislation, the 14,400 small businesses in the district with 100 employees or less will be able to join the health insurance exchange, benefiting from group rates and a greater choice of insurers.
13,300 small businesses in the district with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $50,000 will qualify for tax credits of up to 50 percent of the costs of providing health insurance.
Covering the uninsured
The Legislation would extend coverage to 95 percent of all Americans. If this level of coverage reached the district, 26,500 residents who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.
In 2008, health care providers in the district provided uncompensated care to individuals who lacked coverage and were unable to pay their bills. Under the legislation, these cost of uncompensated care will be reduced by $64 million.
There are 13 community health centers in the district that provide health care to the poor and medically underserved. Nationwide, the legislation would provide $11 billion in new funding for these centers. If the community health centers in the district receive the average level of support, the 13 centers will receive $16.9 million in new assistance.
Deficit Spending
The cost of health reform under the legislation is fully paid for, in large part by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and excessive profits for private insurers. The legislation will reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next 10 years and by $1 trillion or more over the next 20 years.
The Committee on Energy and Commerce in the US House of Representatives released a report in March stating the benefits of Health Care Reform for Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District.
“I look forward to reviewing the final language of the bill,” said Congressman Chris Carney (PA-10). “I continue to fight for the health insurance legislation that ensures affordability, denies insurers the option of rejecting people with preexisting conditions and enables people to take their insurance with them when they change jobs.”
Not all are in favor of the bill, which the House may be taking to a vote on Sunday.
“This report is one gigantic fraud, beginning with its statement, ‘the legislation reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next ten years,’ an arguement they construct by counting ten years of tax revenue against six years of benefit expense,” said Tom J. Shepstone, of Shepstone Management Company, a consulting firm based in Honesdale.
Judith Murphy member of the Wayne County Council of Republican Women joined more than 200 other Republican women leaders from across the nation at the National Federation of Republican Women board meeting in Oklahoma City, March 12-13. They unanimously passed a resolution rejecting government-run health care and calling for market-oriented reform solutions.
Rep. Carney, however, pressed for the measures being touted by supporters.
“We must also close the prescription drug ‘donut hole’ for our seniors, ensure that federal funds can’t go to pay for abortions and guarantee that maternity care is covered so that we protect our mothers and unborn children,” Rep. Carney said.
“As a cancer survivor, I was fortunate not to have been kicked off my health insurance plan because of my so-called preexisting conditions. But countless others throughout our region don’t have that assurance. We must resolve that problem, give families the choices they have been badly lacking and bring affordability into a system that has run out of control,” he said.
The report cites data taken from the US Census; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Department of Health and Human Services; The Health Resources and Services Administration; and the Congressional Budget Office.
Each section of the report is broken down:
Reform
Approximately 62 percent (406,000 residents in PA-10) receives health care coverage from an employer or through policies purchased on the individual market. Under the legislation, individuals with insurance can keep the coverage they have now. The insurance reforms in the bill prohibit annual and lifetime limits, eliminate rescissions for individuals who become ill while insured, ban coverage denials for pre-existing conditions, and reduce the cost of preventive care.
To rein in soaring insurance costs, the reforms also limit the amount insurance companies can spend on administrative expenses, profits and other overhead.
Tax cuts
Those who do not receive health care coverage through their employer will be able to purchase coverage at group rates through the new health insurance exchange.
To make this insurance affordable, the legislation contains the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in history, providing middle class families with incomes up to $88,000 for a family of four with tax credits to help pay for coverage in the exchange. For a family of four making $50,000, the average tax credit will be approximately $5,800.
There are 179,000 households in the district that could qualify for these credits if they purchase health insurance through the exchange or, in the case of households with income below 133 percent of poverty, receive coverage from Medicaid.
Pre-existing conditions
There are 7,900 uninsured individuals in the district who have pre-existing medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Under the bill’s insurance reforms, they cannot be denied affordable coverage.
Bankruptcies
There were 800 health-related bankruptcies in the district in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs by insurance. The legislation caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $6,200 for individuals and $12,400 for families who purchase insurance through the exchange or who are insured by small businesses. It also eliminates annual and lifetime limits on all insurance coverage.
Improving Medicare
There are 122,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district. The legislation improves their benefits by providing free preventive and wellness care, improving primary and coordinated care, and enhancing nursing home care. The bill also strengthens the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its solvency from 2017 to 2026.
Part D donut hole
Each year, 11,500 Medicare beneficiaries in the district enter the Part D donut hole and are forced to pay the full cost o their prescription drugs. Under the bill, these beneficiaries will receive a $250 rebate in 2010, 50% discounts on brand name drugs beginning in 2011, will see savings of over $700 in 2011 and over $3,000 by 2020.
Young adult options
The legislation will allow young adults to stay on their parents’ policies until they are 26. There are 45,000 young adults in the district who can benefit from this option.
Small Businesses
Under the legislation, the 14,400 small businesses in the district with 100 employees or less will be able to join the health insurance exchange, benefiting from group rates and a greater choice of insurers.
13,300 small businesses in the district with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $50,000 will qualify for tax credits of up to 50 percent of the costs of providing health insurance.
Covering the uninsured
The Legislation would extend coverage to 95 percent of all Americans. If this level of coverage reached the district, 26,500 residents who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.
In 2008, health care providers in the district provided uncompensated care to individuals who lacked coverage and were unable to pay their bills. Under the legislation, these cost of uncompensated care will be reduced by $64 million.
There are 13 community health centers in the district that provide health care to the poor and medically underserved. Nationwide, the legislation would provide $11 billion in new funding for these centers. If the community health centers in the district receive the average level of support, the 13 centers will receive $16.9 million in new assistance.
Deficit Spending
The cost of health reform under the legislation is fully paid for, in large part by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and excessive profits for private insurers. The legislation will reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next 10 years and by $1 trillion or more over the next 20 years.
