Thursday, August 27, 2009

Very useful resource on impact of health care reform

If you would like to evaluate the impact of Congressional bill, H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, on a congressional district-by-district basis click
here.

The imformation that you'll find is amazing!

Here's what I found about U. S. Congressional District 5 represented by Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act would provide significant benefits in the 5th Congressional District of Texas: up to 13,400 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 8,600 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D; 700 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs; health care providers would receive payment for $84 million in uncompensated care each year; and 167,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

Help for small businesses. Under the legislation, small businesses with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $40,000 qualify for tax credits of up to 50% of the costs of providing health insurance. There are up to 13,400 small businesses in the district that could qualify for these credits.

Help for seniors with drug costs in the Part D donut hole. Each year, 8,600 seniors in the district hit the donut hole and are forced to pay their full drug costs, despite having Part D drug coverage. The legislation would provide them with immediate relief, cutting brand name drug costs in the donut hole by 50%, and ultimately eliminate the donut hole.

Health care and financial security. There were 700 health care-related bankruptcies in the district in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs not covered by insurance. The bill provides health insurance for almost every American and caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $10,000 per year, ensuring that no citizen will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.

Relieving the burden of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers. In 2008, health care providers in the district provided $84 million worth of uncompensated care, care that was provided to individuals who lacked insurance coverage and were unable to pay their bills. Under the legislation, these costs of uncompensated care would be virtually eliminated.

Coverage of the uninsured. There are 188,000 uninsured individuals in the district, 27% of the district. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nationwide, 97% of all Americans will have insurance coverage when the bill takes effect. If this benchmark is reached in the district, 167,000 people who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage.

No deficit spending. The cost of health care reform under the legislation is fully paid for: half through making the Medicare and Medicaid program more efficient and half through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals. This surtax would affect only 1,990 households in the district. The surtax would not affect 99.3% of taxpayers in the district.

Visit the website and check out the impact of this comprehensive plan for health care on your own congressional district. Let us hear your reactions. There is so much misinformation and fear out there. We need more factual analysis.

4 comments:

  1. Larry, man, I couldn't finish reading this post until I had a good cry. The section that goes like this literally stopped me in my tracks:

    "I don't want to be greedy," he told me.

    Now, the guy is flat killing me.

    "No chance of that here," I reassured him.

    And, this following on the heels of your post about the Copeland's prosperity gospel. Things sure get upside down in our world when a man with nothing is concerned about taking more than his share, but others with far more than their share have little concern.

    Thanks for clearing out my tear ducts!

    Your friend,

    Pam

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  2. I left the above comment on the wrong post! I meant to leave it at the "thief" post.... See what you did to me! You got me all confused!

    Pam

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  3. This is a great plan. Imagine having someone else pay for my cost of living. I'm still waiting on legislation for the government to pay for homeowners and auto insurance.

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  4. Anon 1:00 pm, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume you know that there will be a cost to be paid by those who recieve the coverage. Just like my Medicare benefits, to which I've been paying every pay period for a long time and until I reach an age where I can access it, there will be a payroll deduction--just like for health insurance now at my work. Everyone who can pay would pay in such a national plan. The benefit would come in a better price for the national insurance plan. Further, health care and service is just not the same as my auto's or home's needs is it? I see people daily who wait for care, very often to their demise, who shouldn't.

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