Family Security Matters » Publications » 10 Lumps of Coal in the Health Care Bill

Family Security Matters » Publications » 10 Lumps of Coal in the Health Care Bill: "For most Americans, the health reform bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing to pass will be worse than coal in their stockings. Herewith, the Top 10 List of Things You Don’t Want From Health Care Reform This Christmas – But Will Get Anyway From Congress.

1. Higher premiums: If you pay for your own insurance, your premiums will cost 10 percent to 13 percent more than if the bill didn’t pass, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Insurance won’t be more affordable. Sixty percent of the newly insured are being enrolled in Medicaid, the public program for the poor.

2. A cost you can’t afford and can’t avoid: Though moderate-income families will get subsidies, buying insurance is mandatory. A family earning $54,000 will be expected to pay $9,000 (17 percent of pre-tax income) for the premium, co-pays and deductibles, according to the CBO. If you don’t enroll, the IRS will find you and penalize you (Senate bill, p. 345)."