Detailed Obamacare analysis

There have been so many accusations going back and forth between the Democrats and the Republicans. It is difficult to separate the hyperbole from the reality. I found this excellent, detailed analysis of the house bill, H.R. 3200 "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009”. It is written by John David Lewis, a classics professor at Duke University. He earned his PhD in classics at the University of Cambridge in 2001. Dr. Lewis asks 9 questions and then reviews the pertinent sections of the bill to answer the questions. He writes this from a non-doctor, non-attorney, general citizen point of view. I have written a summary below. You can read the entire article here.

1. Will the plan ration medical care?

• The short answer is yes. The government will control costs by limiting the medical evaluations and treatments it will reimburse.
  

2. Will the plan punish Americans who try to opt out?

• Yes, individuals without acceptable healthcare coverage as defined by the government, will be assessed a special tax that will be enforced through the IRS.

3. What constitutes acceptable coverage?

• The bill defines this coverage in detail and states that an individual's coverage must meet an actuarial value of 70% of the required coverage. This essentially makes high deductible catastrophic health insurance and medical savings accounts illegal.
  

4. Will the plan destroy private health insurance?

• Private health insurance remains legal. However, small business can pay an 8% payroll tax instead of providing health benefits. The employees would then have to be on the government plan. The 8% payroll tax is much less money than it costs for the business to provide medical benefits. Therefore, there is a strong financial incentive for business to abolish their healthcare benefits and move employees to the government plan.
  

5. Does the plan tax successful Americans more than others?

• Yes, the IRS code is modified to add a new progressive tax starting with incomes of $350, 000.
  

6. Does the plan allow government to set fees for services?

• Yes, a government official will set payment rates for all medical services. The official's authority to set prices is "unlimited".
  

7. Will the plan increase the power of government officials to scrutinize our private affairs?

• The Health Choices Commissioner will have access to any tax payer's financial information as needed to determine eligibility.
  

8. Does the plan automatically enroll Americans in the government plan?

• Anyone not specifically entered in a private plan by their employer will be enrolled in the government plan.
  

9. Does the plan exempt federal officials from court review?

• No judicial review of the payment rate or methodology is allowed under the plan.