Creates a special deal for union members.  Starting in 2018, a single union worker in a multiemployer health plan would be completely exempt from the “Cadillac tax” (a 40% tax on high-cost plans) unless the price of that plan exceeds $27,500.  In contrast, a single, non-union worker living right next door would start paying that Cadillac tax as soon as the value of her health… Read more

Apparently still short on votes for their health care overhaul, Democrat Congressional leaders have loaded up their latest health bill with hundreds of millions of dollars in NEW special deals to wavering Democrat members. Last minute changes to their health package include a $400 million slush fund, found in Section 1109 of the Democrats’ amended reconciliation bill, to provide higher… Read more

Tonight, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released their latest estimate of the Democrats’ reconciliation bill (H.R. 4278) that the House is expected to consider tomorrow.  Three highlights stood out: INSURANCE PREMIUMS RISE FASTER THAN IF CONGRESS DID NOTHING.  A staple of then-Senator Obama’s campaign speeches was that his health plan would… Read more

Having ignored the Medicare Actuaries’ warnings, Democrats prescribe additional cuts to seniors’ safety-net program The Senate Democrats’ health bill cuts Medicare by a whopping $463 billion.  These cuts were so drastic that the Obama Administration’s own Medicare Actuaries predicted that “providers might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for… Read more

The non-partisan and independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today released an analysis detailing just how harmful the Democrats’ half-trillion dollar cuts to Medicare will be on millions of seniors. The analysis specifically examines the impact these cuts will have on seniors in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Today, nearly 11 million seniors rely on MA plans for their health… Read more

Over the last week, a growing number House Democrats have been echoing the concerns of the American people, namely that Obamacare will bankrupt the country, will fail to reduce the cost of health insurance and will cut Medicare benefits.   Some House Democrats have spoken out against Obamacare, despite the lure of secret kickbacks to members who vote “yes" and despite ominous threats… Read more

The Democrats' Senate-passed health overhaul includes a $400 billion expansion of the Medicaid program.  In fact, according to the independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) almost half of all the newly insured individuals (15 million) will be dumped into Medicaid. Entitlement expansion is not reform and adding more people and costs to a faltering program will only… Read more

The White House has made no secret about its war on profits.  From the banking sector to the health care field, the Administration has sought to tax and regulate virtually anyone with a positive balance sheet.  There is, however, one notable exception – the big pharmaceutical companies and their trade association, PhRMA.  As Politico’s Ben Smith reports, “while insurance industry… Read more

Americans rightly believe the goal of any health care reform bill should be make health insurance more affordable.  This would certainly help Ms. Natoma Canfield, whose experience was discussed by President Obama in his visit to Ohio today.The problem, which has been widely reported, is that Obamacare will not reduce the cost of health insurance premiums.  Instead, according to the… Read more

Today, on the floor of the United States Senate, the second highest ranking Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois said:  “Anyone who would stand before you and say well, if you pass health care reform, next year's health care premiums are going down, I don't think is telling the truth. I think it is likely they would go up, but what we're trying to do is slow the rate of increase.”  (Sen.… Read more