1. Increasing the tax credits to buy insurance
2. Eliminates several of the special deals given to senators, such as
Ben Nelson's "
Cornhusker Kickback"
3. Lowers the penalty for not buying insurance from $750 to $695
4. Closes the
Medicare Part D "
donut hole" by 2020 and gives seniors a rebate of $250.
5. Delays the implementation on taxing "Cadillac health-care plans" until 2018
6. Requires doctors who treat Medicare patients be reimbursed at the full rate
7. Sets up a medicare tax on the unearned incomes of families that earn more than $250,000 annually.
8. Offer more generous subsidies to lower income groups. Households below 150% of the
federal poverty level would pay 2% to 4% of their income on premiums. Health plans would cover 94% of the cost of benefits.[SUP]
[19][/SUP] Households with incomes from 150% to 400% of the federal poverty level ($88,200 for a family of four) would pay on a sliding scale from 4% to 9.8% of their income on premiums, rest will be covered by government advanceable,
refundable tax credit. Health plans would cover 70% of the cost of the benefits.[SUP]
[19][/SUP][SUP]
[20][/SUP]
9. In 2014, if a company with more than 50 workers does not offer coverage, they will be obligated to pay $2,000 for each full time worker in the company, exempting the money due for the first 30 employees. For example, an employer with 53 workers will pay the penalty for 23 workers, or $46,000.[SUP]
[19][/SUP]
10. Would increase Medicaid payment rates to primary care doctors to match Medicare payment rates, which are higher, in 2013 and 2014.[SUP]
[19][/SUP]
11. The federal government would pay all of the costs of expanding Medicaid under the reform until 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. Some states that already insure childless adults under Medicaid would receive more federal money for covering that group through 2018.
12. The Medicare patients will receive 50% discount on brand-name drugs would begin in 2011. By 2020, the government would pay to provide up to 75% discount on brand-name and generic drugs, eventually closing the coverage gap.[SUP]
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13. Would extend the ban on lifetime limits and rescission of coverage to all existing health plans within six months after signing into Law