Small businesses will be able to get a tax credit for up to 35% of their contribution to the premium.In 2014, they can get up to 50% if they get their health insurance through the new health insurance exchanges.Tax-exempt businesses will get up to 35%.If your employer offers a HP that covers less than 60% of your costs or make you pay more than 9.5% of your income,you can apply for a subsidy and get your HP from your state's exchange instead.The exchanges will have different plans to choose from with more coverage costing more.Two national private plans will be offered in 2014 that meet all of the minimum standards of health care programs for federal workers.The new system will close the "donut hole" for drug purchases.By 2013,50% discount on brand-name drugs will be offered.Subsidies will increase for generic drugs.By 2020,there will be a 50% discount on all drugs with medicare covering another 25%.
The Medicare Advantage (private..10 million people)plans cost $11 billion more than regular Medicare in 2009.Under the new law,the government will change the payment formula to these private plans to save money for services.Pilot programs are being developed to test new ways of paying Medicare providers and organizing their services.The point will be to find new ways to spend less on medical care and try to make it more efficient.
Starting in 2014,if you apply for any kind of coverage through your state's insurance exchange,they're supposed to check to see if you qualify for either Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program.If they do,they'll enroll you automatically.Under the new voluntary long-term care coverage program,you'd get a least $50 a day in benefits.You would pay premiums through payroll deductions.All new private HP will have to cover preventive services without you sharing the costs.Breast cancer screenings will be covered under Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.The new law makes a push for "comparative effectiveness research" which tries to find the best procedures and treatments for certain conditions.The Independent Payment Advisory Board will recommend ways to cut Medicare spending but it won't be able to ration care,cut your benefits,raise your premiums or taxes,or change who is eligible for Medicare.
In October 2009,the Institute of Medicine estimated that a third of all health care spending in the U.S.($800 billion) goes to care that doesn't make us any better."Medical homes" will be encouraged as a place that has a team that understands your medical needs(doctor,nurse,pharmacist,arrangements to see specialists or hospitals,protect you from other providers who want to give unnecessary tests/medications).
The solution for paying for the new plan will be spread broadly.It will be paid buy the wealthy,the most generous health plans, and cutting the fat out of Medicare and health industry.There will be a tax on "Cadillac Plans" worth more than $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family.The medical expenses deduction will have a higher level before you can deduct from your taxes.The Medicare providers will receive increases at a slower level for services.Payments to medicare advantage plans will be frozen at their current levels.There will be cuts to hospitals that treat the uninsured.If your income is over $170,000,you will have to pay higher premiums for medicare Part B,which covers physician and outpatient services.High income individuals will have to pay higher medicare payroll taxes than everyone else(1.45 to 2.35%..3.8% on investments.
The book is well written and provides all the answers.
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