10 Ways Senate Health Reform Hurts You

Measure that should have saved money will cost an arm and a leg
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 21, 2009 6:03 PM CST
10 Ways Senate Health Reform Hurts You
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. lifts a copy of the Democratic health care reform bill.   (AP Photo)

The Senate health reform bill is all fire and brimstone for the folks over at Firedoglake. The “con job” legislation “isn’t a ‘starter home,’ it’s a sink hole,” Jane Hamsher writes, and “it needs to die so something else can take its place.” Why, you ask? Ten reasons:

  • $$$: "Forces you to pay up to 8% of your income to private insurance corporations."
  • More $$$: "Penalties of up to 2% of your annual income" if you don't buy insurance.

  • Yet more $$$: Coverage mandatory for some who can't afford "$11,900 in annual out-of-pocket expenses over and above their annual premiums."
  • Anti-choice: The bill is "designed to trigger a challenge to Roe v. Wade."
  • Worse care: Taxes on existing employer plans will decrease benefits.
  • No returns: Taxes would start now, but advantages don't materialize until 2014.
  • 300%: That's how much more the elderly could be charged.
  • Drugs: Big Pharma gets a handout, and you get charged more.
  • More drugs: No importation of cheaper alternatives.
  • $$$, again: "In 10 years, your family’s insurance premium will be $10,000 more annually than it is right now."
(More health care reform stories.)

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