Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled his comprehensive health reform legislation, which the CBO projects would extend coverage to 31 million uninsured people while reducing the federal deficit by nearly $130 billion over 10 years. The Wonk Room’s Igor Volsky has produced this helpful chart explaining how the details of the Senate bill compare with the legislation that the House passed earlier this month:
Senate BillHouse BillCostsReduce deficits: $130B/10yrs Cost: $848B/10yrs Spends on subsidies: $447B/10yrs On Medicaid/CHIP: $374B/10yrs On Small Employer Credit: $27B/10yrsReduce deficits: $139B/10yrs Cost: $894B/10yrs Spends on subsidies: $605B/10yrs On Medicaid/CHIP: $425B/10yrs On Small Employer Credit: $25B/10yrsInsuredUninsured reduced by: 31M Uninsured in 2019: 24M In Exchanges: 25M | Public Plan: 3–4M In Medicaid: 15MUninsured reduced by: 36M Uninsured in 2019: 18M In Exchanges: 30M | Public Plan: 6M In Medicaid: 15MRevenueMandate penalty: $8B/10yrsFree rider penalty: $28B/10yrs New taxes: $238B/10yrs Excise tax: $149B/10yrs Payroll tax: $54B/10yrsMandate penalty: $33B/10yrsPay-Play penalty: $135B/10yrs New taxes: $572B/10yrsMedicare andMedicaidTotal savings: $491B/10yrs Medicare Advantage: $118B/10yrsTotal savings: $426B/10yrs Medicare Advantage: $170B/10yrs
Reid is expected to call for a “motion to proceed” vote this Saturday, which needs 60 votes. While Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) indicated that he would support Reid’s effort to proceed to the health care debate, a couple of Democrats are still withholding support. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has “remained noncommittal,” while Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) said she would announce her intentions today.