I mentioned a couple of the differences between the House and Senate Health reforms bills in my last Senate Health Bill Estimated to Cost $849 Billion And is Estimated to Reduce Deficits by $127 Billion by 2019. , however I came across a more extensive comparison on Speaker Pelosi's blog, The Gavel:
DEFICIT REDUCTION
According to the latest CBO analysis of deficit reduction, the House bill reduces the deficit by $139 billion in the first 10 years, and by as much as $650 billion in the second 10 years.
According to the latest CBO analysis of deficit reduction, the Senate bill reduces the deficit by $130 billion in the first 10 years, and by about $650 billion in the second 10 years.
COVERAGE
The House bill covers 36 million currently uninsured Americans.
The Senate bill covers 31 million currently uninsured Americans.
EFFECTIVE DATES
Under the House bill, major coverage provisions go into effect in 2013.
Under the Senate bill, major coverage provisions go into effect in 2014.
SENIORS
The House bill fully closes the prescription drug donut hole for seniors.
The Senate bill does not fully close the prescription drug donut hole for seniors.
MIDDLE CLASS AFFORDABILITY
The House bill lowers premiums and cost sharing for the middle class through 25 percent more generous affordability credits for the average person going into the Exchange.
PROMOTING COMPETITION & THE PUBLIC OPTION
The House bill offers a public health insurance option nationwide to promote competition.
The Senate bill also contains a public option but allows states to opt-out.
The House bill eliminates the health insurance company anti-trust exemption.
The Senate bill does not eliminate the health insurance company anti-trust exemption.
EMPLOYER-SPONSORED INSURANCE COVERAGE
The House bill increases enrollment in private employer-provided coverage by 6 million Americans.
The Senate bill reduces employer-sponsored coverage by 5 million Americans. (These individuals will go into the Exchange because their employers dropped coverage.)
PAYING FOR REFORM
The House and Senate bills take different approaches on paying for reform. TheHouse bill includes a surcharge on income above $500,000 for an individual and $1 million for couples. Payfors in the House bill are strongly supported by the American people–a new AP poll found 57 percent support a surcharge on those earning more than $250,000 per year to help pay for health care.
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