The House Republican Obamacare replacement package is finally out, and the two main health care committees — Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce — are scheduled to start working on the bills on Wednesday. Here's your speed read on what's in them — summaries are available here and here:
In:
Pre-existing condition coverage
Continuous coverage — 30 percent penalty if people don't keep themselves insured
Special fund to help states set up "high-risk" pools, fix their insurance markets, or help low-income patients
Enrollment in expanded Medicaid will be frozen
Current enrollees can stay until 2020, and keep getting extra federal funds, until they leave the program on their own
Medicaid will change to "per capita caps" (funding limits for each person) in fiscal year 2020
A new, refundable tax credit will be available in 2020 to help people buy health insurance
Covers five age groups — starts at $2,000 for people in their 20s, increases to $4,000 for people in their 60s
It's not means tested, but phased out for upper-income people (starting at $75,000 for individuals, $150,000 for families)
Insurers can charge older customers five times as much as young adults
Out:
All Obamacare taxes
All Obamacare subsidies, including its premium tax credit
Individual, employer mandate penalties
"Cadillac tax" (until 2025)
No longer will limit the tax break for employer-sponsored health coverage
No payments to insurers for cost-sharing reductions
Selling insurance across state lines (can't be done in the "reconciliation" bill)
Medical malpractice reform (can't be done in the "reconciliation" bill)
