Perhaps by morning there will be articles out there with some quick stats on the things you might want to know.   I thought I would put out a few of the stats to start.  



  • Can I get insurance without a pre-ex clause??-  Not until 2014. 
  • High Risk pools ? –  Federal government will fund $5 billion for high risk pools.  Should kick in 2010.  
  • Kids ?  –  To age 26 in all States.    Should kick in 2010. 
  • Did my taxes go up?  –  Payroll tax will increase in 2010 for those earning over $200k.  Income tax surcharge of 3.8%. 
  • Did my Health Savings Account survive?  – Yes.
  • What about employer penalties who don’t provide insurance –  For qualified employers, the penalty has been increased from $750 to $2000 per employee.  Companies with 50 or fewer workers are exempt from the requirement. Part-time workers are included in the calculations, counting two part-timers as one full-time worker.
  • What about individual penalties?  –  If you don’t have insurance, you will pay 2% income tax surcharge up to $325 per person. 
  • What about Expensive health plans surtax?  – Exists,  $10,200 for singles,  $27,500 for families and that doesn’t start until 2018.
  • Flex Spending Accounts –  $2500 annual contribution limit. 
  • Deduction of Medical Expenses – Increase from 7.5% of AGI to 10% excluded.  
  • Creation of Long Term Care insurance fund for to help seniors in need of help with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing.
  • Subsidy for low income – on a sliding scale for households making up to four times the federal poverty level, $88,200 for a family of four. Premiums for a family of four making $44,000 would be capped at around 6 percent of income.
  • No gender based pricing for individual insurance. 
  • Insurance Exchange starts in 2014. No Public Option.
  • No lifetime limits on benefits.  
  • $480 billion in new taxes over the next 10 years. 
  • $500 billion in Medicare cuts over the next 10 years.