Text 4093, 156 rader
Skriven 2007-02-21 23:31:16 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0702213) for Wed, 2007 Feb 21
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Fact Sheet: Helping More Americans Afford Health Insurance
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 21, 2007

Fact Sheet: Helping More Americans Afford Health Insurance


ÿÿÿÿÿ President Bush Participates in a Roundtable on Health Care
Initiatives ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Health Care

Today, President Bush Participated In A Conversation On Health Care
Initiatives In Chattanooga, Tennessee.In his State of the Union Address,
the President proposed a standard deduction for health insurance to make
private health insurance more affordable and to level the playing field so
those who buy health insurance on their own get the same tax advantage as
those who get health insurance through their jobs. He also proposed the
Affordable Choices Initiative to help eligible States assist their poor and
hard-to-insure citizens in purchasing private health insurance.
  þ The President Also Participated In A Tour Of Erlanger Hospital 
    Baroness Campus. Each year, more than 250,000 people receive health
    care at Erlanger Hospital, including 26,000 cases with uninsured
    patients last year. The hospital operates efficiently and earns a small
    surplus. One key to its success is its investment in health information
    technology, including automated medical records for patients and
    digital technology to transmit health information to physicians.

Helping More Americans Afford Coverage With A Standard Deduction For Health
Insurance

The Current Tax Code Is Unfair To Americans Who Do Not Get Health Insurance
Through Their Jobs. Unlike those who get insurance through their jobs,
people who buy health insurance on their own have to pay for it with
after-tax dollars and receive no assistance from the tax code.Americans who
are self-employed pay no income taxes on their premiums, but because they
still owe payroll taxes, they are also disadvantaged compared to those who
get insurance through their employers.
  þ Under Current Law, The Tax Code Also Pushes People Toward Expensive
    Health Insurance And Lower Wages. The more expensive the health
    insurance plan people receive through their employers, the more tax
    relief they get. This makes the insurance market less competitive and
    pushes up prices for everyone by encouraging many workers to choose
    more expensive health insurance than they would choose if the tax code
    were not distorting their decision.

The President Has Proposed Replacing Our Current Health Insurance Tax
System With A Standard Deduction For Health Insurance. Under the
President's proposal, families with health insurance will pay no income or
payroll taxes on $15,000 dollars of income. Single Americans with health
insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $7,500 of income.
  þ Under The President's Proposal, More Than 100 Million Men, Women, And
    Children Who Are Now Covered By Employer-Provided Insurance Will
    Benefit From Lower Tax Bills.
  þ The President's Proposal Will Level The Playing Field For Those Who Buy
    Insurance On Their Own, Saving These Individuals Money On Their Taxes.
  þ For The Millions Of Americans Who Have No Health Insurance, The
    Standard Deduction Would Help Put A Basic Private Health Insurance Plan
    Within Reach.

Helping The Poor And Hard-To-Insure Afford Coverage Through The Affordable
Choices Initiative

ThePresident's Proposed Affordable Choices Initiative Will Help Governors
Reduce The Number Of People In Their States Without Private Health
Insurance. States that make basic private health insurance available to all
their citizens should receive Federal funds to help them provide this
coverage to the poor and the sick. Under the Affordable Choices Initiative,
existing Federal funds would be used to create Affordable Choices grants to
give eligible governors more money and more flexibility to get private
health insurance to those most in need.

The President Has A Broad Agenda To Help More Americans Afford Health Care
 1. Keeping The Promises Of Medicare And Medicaid. Millions of Americans
    rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their health care needs, but spending
    for these programs is growing faster than our ability to pay for them.
    Our growing economy gives us an opportunity to address the challenge of
    runaway entitlement spending growth from a position of strength, and
    Congress needs to live up to its responsibility by coming together to
    fix Medicare and Medicaid.
 2. Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSAs allow people to save
    money for health care tax-free and to take these accounts with them if
    they move from job to job.
 3. Strengthening The Buying Power Of America's Small Businesses By Forming
    Association Health Plans (AHPs). Small businesses, as well as civic and
    community groups, should be allowed to band together in AHPs to get the
    same discounts big companies receive.
 4. Improving The Adoption Of Health Information Technology. Electronic
    health records improve the efficiency and effectiveness of medical
    treatment. In 2004, the President launched an initiative to make
    electronic health records available to most Americans within the next
    10 years, while assuring privacy and security, and he has directed
    Federal agencies to use improved health IT systems.
 5. Increasing The Transparency Of America's Health Care System. Increased
    transparency about prices and quality will help bring more competition
    to health care, restraining its rising costs. The President has
    directed Federal agencies to share information with beneficiaries about
    prices paid to health care providers for procedures and about the
    quality of services provided by doctors, hospitals, and other health
    care providers.

Three Case Studies: Health Insurance More Accessible And Affordable Under
President's Plan

The information below demonstrates how much money three Tennesseans
participating in the President's event today in Chattanooga would save
under the President's proposed standard deduction for health insurance.

Danny Jennings, Manager, Tennessee Valley Nursery (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Currently Uninsured; Married, 2 Children
  þ Monthly Cost Of Health Insurance Today Would Be: $425.83
  þ Monthly Net Cost Of Health Insurance Under The President's Proposal:
    $47.08
  þ Monthly Savings: $378 ($4536 per year)
      þ Assumes he would purchase a family insurance plan in Chattanooga
        that costs $5,110 (as quoted on eHealthinsurance.com inflated to
        2009 dollars).
              þ $5,150 deductible and out-of-pocket maximu
              þ Preventive care for no cost
              þ Includes prescription drugs and chiropractic
              þ $5 million maximum lifetime benefit per person

Martha Ginn, Office Manager, Womack Motor Company (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Currently Uninsured; Single
  þ Monthly Cost Of Health Insurance Today Would Be: $212.08
  þ Monthly Net Cost Of Health Insurance Under The President's Proposal:
    $51.09
  þ Monthly Savings: $160 ($1920 per year)
      þ Assumes she would purchase an individual insurance plan in
        Chattanooga that costs $2,545 (as quoted on eHealthinsurance.com
        inflated to 2009 dollars).
          þ $5,000 deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
          þ 100% of Well-woman annual exam covered after $35 deductible
          þ 100% of Preventive care covered (mammogram, cervical cancer
            screening)
          þ Includes prescription drugs with $10, $35, and $50 co-pay.
          þ $5 million maximum lifetime benefit per person

Amy Childers, Interior Designer, Lumen Lamps (Nashville, Tenn.)

Currently Purchases Insurance On Individual Market
  þ Monthly Increase In Take-Home Pay Under The President's Proposal: $189
    (No change in insurance; $2268 per year)

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