TAMPA, FL -- In November, Senate Democrats have unveiled their version of a health care bill.
The bill would extend coverage to 31 million Americans and cost $849 billion dollars. It's also supposed to reduce the deficit by $127 billion dollars over the next ten years.
But, the Senate bill has some stark differences to the version which passed in the U.S. House.
-- One of the biggest differences surrounds the public option. The Senate bill does include one, but it gives states the right to refuse participation. The House bill does not.
-- The Senate bill will create state or regional exchanges. The exchanges are new marketplaces where people can shop for insurance plans. The house bill creates a national exchange.
-- Then there's the highly debated question of abortion. The Senate bill relaxes legislation passed in the House. It allows for plans in the public option to cover abortions with segregated federal dollars, in other words without tax payer money. The house plan abortion excludes from any plans in the public option
-- A wide variety of cuts and new taxes and will help pay for both bills. But, the Senate bill includes a 4% tax on high cost, so called “Cadillac,” insurance plans. Those are plans valued at eight thousand or more for a single person or $23,000 for a family. The House creates a new 5.4% surtax on the wealthy, or individuals making more than $500,000 per year.
