TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE HEALTH CARE REFORM
There is no possible way to immediately know the details and evaluate the impact of this bill. Part of the reason is that we confuse bringing down the price of medical care with bringing down the cost. Then we confuse medical care with health care.
What we do know is that in 2010 an adult who has a pre-existing medical condition can join a high-risk insurance pool. Children with pre-existing conditions will now be covered. Preventive services are now fully covered with no required co-pays or deductibles. Medicare part D enrollees will get a $250 rebate. Some small businesses will begin to get tax credits to partially offset employee insurance costs. And the first tax begins – 10% on indoor tanning services.
From time to time (as we figure out more details) we will bring you additional information on this landmark legislation.
(Sources for this information are the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Speaker’s Office, WhiteHouse.gov, Kaiser Health News, and the Congressional Budget office, www.politicsdaily.com)
