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WHY WE NEED REFORM
Since 2000, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have more than doubled - a rate three times faster than cumulative wage increases.The average cost of an employer-based family health insurance policy in 2009 was $13,375 -- that's $1,115 a month - nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Up from $12,680 in 2008 and $6,462 in 1996.
Almost 75 percent of individuals looking for coverage on the individual market never bought a plan, with 61 percent citing premium cost as the primary reason.
In 2007, 60% of personal bankruptcies were reported to be related to medical costs.
Over 47 million Americans are uninsured. In 2008, 23 million uninsured were employed adults and 7.3 million were children.
MYTH #1: Health insurance reform is a "government takeover."
FACT: The health insurance reform legislation expands private health insurance in America, and is based on increasing choice and competition -- providing for new marketplaces (called "Insurance Exchanges") where the uninsured, small business employees, and the self-employed will be able to choose among a variety of private insurance plans.
MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE
Includes provisions that have the effect of closing the so-called "donut hole" (or coverage gap) in the Medicare prescription drug program faster -- thereby reducing seniors' prescription drug costs even further.
REGIONAL DIVERSITY
Four key points you need to know:
CUTS THE DEFICIT
Cuts the deficit by $143 billion in the first ten years (2010 -- 2019).Cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years.
REINS IN WASTEFUL MEDICARE COSTS AND EXTENDS THE SOLVENCY OF MEDICARE; CLOSES THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DONUT HOLE