How does this new adjusted health plan alter status quo?

[packitinstan]

So, I've been trying to evaluate this new plan objectively, but can't seem to do so. There are varying opinions from numerous sources that provide a hazy and cluttered picture of this plan that Obama is currently rushing through Congress (I believe that he's postponed his trip to Asia to finalize it). It's very hard for me to come up with pure facts about this health plan without having to read through the entire voluminous bill itself.

Having said that, what will this plan change within the current healthcare system and how will it affect: physicians, patients and hmo's.


As factual as possible.

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[packitinstan]

any takers?

 

[deleted87716]

http://blog.taragana.com/health/2010/02/23/obama-health-care-plan-explained-19688/

Health Care Plan at a glance

* Costs $950 billion over 10 years, more than the Senate bill, but less than the House. As with those plans, tax increases and some spending cuts cover the costs.

* Requires everyone to buy insurance or pay a penalty, but adjusts the penalty for some workers.

* Does not include a public option, as some Democrats wanted, but would require coverage of pre-existing conditions.

* Adjusts and, for some, increases tax assistance to buy insurance.

* Does not require companies to provide insurance, but penalizes those that don't. Penalties would be adjusted to help smaller businesses, which also get tax credits to provide insurance.

* Delays taxing "Cadillac" health care plans at work, and raises the threshold before those taxes kick in.

* Raises Medicare taxes and imposes a 2.9 percent levy on income such as dividends and rents for singles making $200,000 and married couples making $250,000.

* Fully closes the "doughnut hole" that can cause a gap in drug coverage under Medicare, but cuts payments for Medicare Advantage.

* Ends the "Cornhusker kickback" that favored Nebraska.

* Establishes new federal oversight of insurance company rate increases.

Thirty-odd states are already constructing legislation to override the federal mandate for health insurance. This could be challenged on constitutional grounds, but experts are divided as to how the Supreme Court would ultimately rule on it.

The health insurance mandate has significant implications for small business and for primary care. Small business may be financially strained by the insurance mandate or penalty, and our primary care infrastructure would likely be overwhelmed.