There are some similarities between the House and Senate health care reform bills, but some key differences.  One of the key differences is how the two bills treat the individual coverage mandate.

Currently, both the House and the Senate health care reform bills mandate that Americans must have some form of health coverage, and both bills would impose certain fines if they do not. 

The House bill would tax anyone without “acceptable health care coverage” 2.5% of their modified adjusted gross income for the year, with certain exceptions. 

New language added to the Senate bill by the Senate Finance Committee would charge “an excise tax of $750 per adult in the household.”  However, “collection shall be limited to withholding of federal payments due.”  Individuals could refuse to pay the fine, and they would not be charged interest or additional fines or arrested, as they might be for not paying income tax.  The fine would just be deducted from any money owed to them by the federal government, such as a tax refund.

The Senate bill with the Finance Committee’s latest changes is available here: here .  (213 pages, pdf file.)

The Senate Finance Committee is waiting for the official analysis of their bill from the Congressional Budget Office, which should be completed later this week.  Before a final bill reaches the full Senate, the fines could change. 

Filed under: health care reform, News by admin