From the AP, Hillary will unveil the final piece of her plan for achieving universal health care today in Iowa. Here's an overview:
- Will require all businesses to provide health coverage or pay into a pool (small business would get tax benefits to help them pay).
- Will eliminate "pre-existing condition" discrimination in the individual policy market.
- Everyone without insurance will be able to buy into either an enhanced version of Medicare or the FEHB (The federal employee program, same as members of congress get).
- Everyone will be required to carry health insurance (similar to Mass. model and the Swiss health care system). Those who can't afford it will get subsidies to purchase it (from the pool that employers will pay into).
- First will focus on containing costs and preventative care, then on expanding coverage.
- Price tag set at $110 billion a year. Will be paid for by rolling back Bush tax cuts and other cost saving measures.