Political Article on The Health Care Bill

10/29/09

Political Article

House Democrats unveil $894 billion health care bill — Ted Barrett, Dana Bash, Tom Cohen, Lisa Desjardins, Alan Silverleib and Deirdre Walsh — CNN — October 29, 2009

The battle over healthcare has reached another milestone! Today the healthcare bill was released to the public online and will be voted upon by the House in no sooner than 3 days. The house’s healthcare bill (nearly 2,000 pages), which is a combination of three versions that were passed by House committees, is expected to cost $894 billion over the next ten years and extend healthcare coverage to about 36 million uncovered Americans, according to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Unfortunately, according to CNN analysis, the bill with the Medicare change costs will be pushing $1 trillion. The House’s bill is guaranteeing that at least 96% of Americans will have healthcare coverage within ten years. Also, any American who does not have coverage will be fined up to 2.5% of the individual’s annual income. The senate also has a healthcare bill in circulation. The Senate Finance Committee plan should cost only $829 billion and have a noncompliance fine of up to $750. After the House votes and passes a bill, it will eventually have to be compromised with Senate’s bill and passed by both houses and signed and agreed by President Obama. The bill on healthcare still has along was to go and still has large potential for failure; but if all goes well, it should be a law before too long.

This healthcare bill has a huge impact upon the United States. If passed, most all Americans (96%) are expected to be protected under some form of healthcare plan. The large cost will cause more taxes to be raised from high income families and lowered Medicare budget. This bill (if passed) will help all but possibly 4% of Americans to obtain healthcare. Under the House’s bill, anyone who does not obtain healthcare can be fined 2.5% of their annual income. Even if your not one of the 36 million people without healthcare, then chances are that you will still be impacted by this bill in some way (if by Medicare changes or higher income person taxes). As you can see, this healthcare plan (if passed) will have an enormous impact upon the United States.