On Thursday, October 29, Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced their version of health care legislation which is a Democratic alternative to the proposal currently considered in the Senate. It is a 2000 pages long bill which should cost $894 billion over the next decade. It is supposed to bring insurance to an additional 36 million people, cap annual out-of-pocket expenses, ensure insurance for pre-existing conditions, lower deficit by $30 billion, cut Medicare expenses by 1.3% every year, and it also includes a public option of health care insurance. The finances for such measures are to be taken from tax increases on the wealthy and from cuts in Medicare and Medicaid.
Right after the plan was revealed and given for study to the members of the House of Representatives a wave of disapproval came in. The first criticism came from CNN analysts who found the expected cost severely understated; the real price tag, they say, is more than $1 trillion. The Republicans on the other hand complain about the tax increases and the big increase in regulations that would be imposed on businesses. Another sore point is, as traditionally, the public option; in the words of Representative Mike Pence said:“This really is a government takeover...” In addition to these issues Democrats and Republicans alike are calling for stronger language on abortion in the final bill.
In any case the bill now in the House of Representatives will have to be ultimately merged with the one in the Senate. Finally, before the united bill is signed by the president it will have to be again voted on in both cambers of the Congress.
by Lucie S.
Source: CNN Edition October 29, 2009
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