Health Care: How's It Going to Affect Me?

I've talked to health care economists, health care providers, insurance and pharmaceutical industry insiders and Americans of all income levels to discuss the current debate about health care reform. The consensus is clear: we need reform, but we don't want to bear too much of the burden.

This morning on The Early Show, Maggie Rodriguez and I examined the impact on three types of people to illustrate how, depending on individual circumstances, health care reform may affect different segments of the population. The general categories were: the uninsured, the small business owner and the high income earner.

Watch CBS Videos Online

You can see how everyone agrees that action is necessary, but getting there involves a number of moving pieces. That's why President Obama plans to deliver a prime time press conference tonight to address health care reform. He's going to have his hands full selling the plan.

President Obama must explain how the plan can offer Americans more choices and more security, remain deficit neutral, and keep long-term costs down, especially after Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director of the Congressional Budget Office released a report noting that the current House plan does little to cut health care expenses. Elmendorf wrote that by 2019, the plan would result "in a net increase in the deficit of an estimated $65 billion."

In a preview of what we might expect to hear tonight, last night on The CBS Evening News, Katie Couric spoke to President Obama about his fight for health care reform. (Go here for the full interview.)

Watch CBS Videos Online

Read More on CBS moneywatch.com:

Obama's Health Care Promises: Can You Really Keep Your Doctor?

Health Care Reform Cheat Sheet

Follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jillonmoney

Comments

[pfrogger]

Editor-at-Large, CBS MoneyWatch.com.
Well, ma'am, I'm sure you're one of the ones hurting during these harsh times? Problems with your insurance? Ever have coverage denied for you or a loved one?

How about rescission? (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rescind17-2009jun17,0,3508020,full.story)

offer Americans more choices? and what choices do they have now. they're premiums increase yearly, deductibles are increasingly high ($5000 for a deductible, what the hell was the point of the insurance?), and they can be denied coverage, or if they or a loved ones have a serious medical condition, they can be dumped IMMEDIATELY and have to pay for it all themselves. it's called rescission. how's that for choices?

and more security? in rescission, a perfectly legal tactic by the insurance mafia, NO ONE has security.

[pfrogger]

remain deficit neutral? and keep long-term costs down? how much is healthcare spending in this country for the great "benefit" from the private insurers? 2009 - 2.5 TRILLION!!! http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/Washington-Watch/13016. you want deficit neutral? how about it not cost 2.5 trillion, like for health insecurity offered by the private insurance. if you spend 3% overhead on Medicare, versus 30-40% overhead for private insurers, than guess which one has more health dollars actually going to healthcare. you wanna know how much insurance company CEOs make: http://www.insurancecompanyrules.org/learn_more/the_roster/.

bear too much of the burden? I doubt you bear any burden. the people bearing the burden are those working minimum wage, who don't qualify for medicaid, and can't afford private insurance for themselves, or their families. how about the average price of a family of four? premiums are approximately 12000 per year. and then there's the deductible. and then if it's serious enough, they'll just dump you. NO CARE, you pay all by yourself. ever wonder why millions of hard-working Americans WITH insurance go bankrupt? now you know.

this "article" is a series of questions? no work was done on your part to seek the answers. I have done your work for you. you have the temerity to nonchalantly ask these questions when millions of your fellow Americans are suffering. Shame on you for sliding a guise of ignorance over hard-working people.