House Reform Bill

The House of Representatives has released its full health reform bill this afternoon...joint effort of three committess in the House (Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce) along with Speaker Pelosi. It contains income tax surtax on income of $350,000+ ($280,000+ single), a public option to compete with private insurance, and an indivdiual mandate for persons to purchase health insurance, and pay or play provisions for employers, graduated based on size of payroll.

At this point biggest House v. Senate sticking points likely to be public option, and how to pay for it (income tax hike v. cap of exclusion of employer provided premiums v. other option). Both Houses have cuts to Medicare to pay for plans.

Interesting tool to compare competing plans (though not updated with today's bill yet).