Current Healthcare Issues

PricewaterhouseCoopers was hired by the insurance lobby to review the Senate Finance Committee’s reform package. The report concluded that the reform would double insurance premiums for families, individuals and employers. It also said that it would cost more money to do the reform, rather than leaving the system untouched. Individuals would see premiums increase to $9,700, by 2019 from $4,200 and families would see an increase of $25,000 from the $12,300 it pays today. The report also stated that the reform would do little to reduce the overall costs of health care.

There were four main provisions that the report focused on, which they say would make coverage less affordable for people, including reforms in the insurance market coupled with a coverage mandate, cuts in Medicare payments, a tax for high cost health plans and new taxes for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other health related industries. Backed by America’s health insurance plans, this report comes prior to the Finance Committee approving the health reform blueprint. Additionally, GOP members will use this report as ammunition against the current health care reform movement.

On the other side of the fence, AARP Executive Vice President, John Rother, told reporters that “I really don’t think it’s worth the paper it’s written on,” and “If anyone believes it, that’s a problem.” The American Health Insurance Plans are standing by the findings of the report. There will be a key vote in the Senate on Tuesday and many believe it will raise costs of individual coverage by hundreds of dollars a year.