By: Shira Moskowitz
Business Manager
After many failed attempts, the new health care bill that was passed by the Senate in December has finally been voted on and passed by the House of Congress. On March 21, 2010 the House voted on whether to pass the democratic bill called the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. This health care bill has been and will continue to be extremely controversial for all Americans, especially for the opposing Republican and Democrat representatives in the House.

The Cost of The Bill ( From CNN): “The compromise health care bill drafted by top Democrats will cost $940 billion over the next 10 years, according to a preliminary analysis released Thursday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.”
What is The Bill Proposing? ( From CNN):
New health insurance subsidies would be provided to families of four making up to $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Health insurance exchanges would be created to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less expensive coverage.
• Total out-of-pocket expenses would be limited, and insurance companies would be prevented from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Insurers would be barred from canceling coverage for sick people, as well as charging higher premiums based on a person’s gender or medical history.
• Insurers would be required to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26.
• The Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole” would be closed by 2020. Under current law, Medicare stops covering drug costs after a plan and beneficiary have spent more than $2,830 on prescription drugs. It starts paying again after an individual’s out-of-pocket expenses exceed $4,550.
• A 40 percent tax would be imposed on insurance companies providing “Cadillac” health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The tax would kick in starting in 2018.
• The Medicare tax would be imposed on investment income for individuals making over $200,000 and couples making over $250,000.
• The federal government would assist states by picking up 100 percent of the costs of expanded Medicaid coverage between 2014 and 2016, and 90 percent starting in 2020.
• Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or face a fine of up to $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater, starting in 2016. The plan includes a hardship exemption for poorer Americans.
• Companies with more than 50 employees would be required to pay a fee of $2,000 per worker if the company does not provide coverage and any of that company’s workers receives federal health care subsidies. The first 30 workers would be subtracted from the payment calculation.
• States could choose whether to ban abortion coverage in plans offered in the health insurance exchanges. Individuals purchasing plans through the exchanges would have to pay for abortion coverage from their own funds.
***President Obama has issued an executive order to address the concerns that many people have about abortion being federally funded. Obama’s executive order reads:
“Existing law prohibits these centers from using federal funds to provide abortion services (except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered), as a result of both the Hyde Amendment and longstanding regulations containing the Hyde language.” “Under the Act, the Hyde language shall apply to the authorization and appropriations of funds for Community Health Centers under section 10503 and all other relevant provisions.”
• Illegal immigrants would not be allowed to buy health insurance in the health insurance exchanges.

The Opposing Views:
According to CNN, in response to how he feels about the new bill passing, Republican Rep. Tom Price, a doctor from Georgia said,

“”This is a sad day, yes, because there are so many wonderful and positive and patient-centered solutions that could be enacted. You see, we trust patients and families. They trust government.”

On the opposing side, Democrat Rep. Tim Bishop of New York said that,
“Amidst angry and at times even hateful rhetoric, amidst the misinformation and scare tactics, there exists one simple truth, and that truth is that the current system is unsustainable. (CNN)”.

The final vote to pass the bill in the House was 219-212, all 178 Republicans opposing it with 34 Democrats.

President Obama made a deal with the anti-abortion Democrats that he would issue an executive order to ensure that existing limits on federal funding of abortion remain in place.

President Obama did not sign the bill on Sunday, March 21, the day it was passed, but he delivered his remarks about the vote from the White House East Room

President Obama, who has always made health care reform a priority for his administration, said that the vote was not a victory for the political party, but for the American people (CNN). President Obama recognizes that this reform will not solve all health care related problems in the U.S, but feels that it is moving us “…decisively in the right direction.”

The long battle that started 150 years ago for all Americans to be guaranteed high quality, affordable health care coverage has now become a reality. While the bill remains controversial, there is no denying that it has made a historical impact on the American people and its government.

As President Obama said in his speech after the bill passed, “This is what change looks like.”