Health reform fact check: Comparing the proposals
By Cindy House 
| September 10, 2009 | 8:01 AM
Two more proposals were added this week to the health reform debate: one from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and one from President Obama.
Baucus, D-Mont., says his proposal is a framework developed during discussions with the bipartisan “Group of Six” senators this summer. The Finance Committee is expected to begin considering the plan’s provisions by the end of the month.
Obama outlined his proposals for health care reform in a speech Wednesday night before a joint session of Congress in an effort to guide the debate.
The two new proposals join House Resolution 3200, the 1,000-plus page bill that fueled controversy during town-hall meetings held by legislators during their August recess. Baucus’ and Obama’s proposals specifically address some of the criticisms raised over H.R. 3200.
A comparison of the three plans on several key issues:
| H.R. 3200 | Baucus | Obama | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eliminate pre-existing conditions penalty | Y | Y | Y |
| Prohibit lifetime benefit limits | Y | Y | Y |
| Interstate sale of insurance | Y | ||
| Able to keep existing insurance plan | Y | Y | Y |
| Create health insurance exchange(s) | Y | Y | Y |
| Tiered benefit options | Y | Y | Y |
| Health insurance tax credits for low-income consumers | Y | Y | Y |
| Require individuals to have health insurance | Y | Y | Y |
| Employers must provide health insurance option | Y | N | Y |
| Establish nonprofit health insurance co-ops | Y | ||
| Establish public health insurance option | Y | Y | |
| Ensure long-term Medicare solvency | Y | ||
| Prohibition on rationed care | Y | ||
| Decrease fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare/Medicaid | Y | Y | Y |
| Fund plan without increasing federal deficit | Y | ||
| Impose surtaxes on high-income consumers | Y | ||
| Impose annual fees on health care industry to help pay for reform programs | Y | Y | |
| Reform medical malpractice laws | Y |
barack obama, health care reform, max baucus
