FACTBOX: Major differences in House, Senate healthcare bills

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate cleared the first procedural hurdle for sweeping healthcare reform on Saturday by voting to open debate on the historic legislation.

The bill resembles a measure passed by the House of Representatives on November 7, but there are some major differences that would eventually have to be ironed out.

The Senate debate due to start on November 30 is expected to last for at least three weeks.

Here is a summary of major differences between the proposed Senate bill and the legislation passed by the House.

INSURANCE MARKET REFORM

Both the House and the Senate bills would mean substantial insurance market reforms that would bar insurers from excluding people for pre-existing conditions and prevent them from arbitrarily dropping policy holders.

Both bills set minimum benefit standards for policies that would be offered in new insurance exchanges where small businesses and individuals without employer-sponsored insurance could shop for policies.

The House bill requires more generous benefits than the Senate bill. The Senate bill also allows insurers to offer less expensive catastrophic coverage to young people and those who get hardship waivers.

The House bill would allow insurers to charge older people up to twice the amount they charge younger policy holders. The Senate bill would allow insurers to charge older people up to three times what they charge younger people.

PUBLIC OPTION

Both bills would establish a new government insurance program to compete with private companies on proposed new state insurance exchanges.

The Senate bill would allow states to opt out of offering the federal health plan.

Continued: http://www.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUSTRE5AL05F20091122?sp=true
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I didn't see this posted yet.

[patrice]

1. Thank you for the work that you do, tekisui!

:hi:

[tekisui]

3. You are quite welcome.

Many hands make light work, right?:hi:

Thanks to you and the rest of DU.

[ThomWV]

2. Waint until the AARP glooms onto this part for the old folks

"The House bill would allow insurers to charge older people up to twice the amount they charge younger policy holders. The Senate bill would allow insurers to charge older people up to three times what they charge younger people."

Yeah, you can bet you ass this is going to happen in someone's dreams. Old people vote.