********online.wsj.com/article/SB124759535535340189.html
I know nothing is definite yet, but this is what they want to do...
Medical businesses are also businesses and provide employment...if their income(reimbursement) shrink, taxes increase (they will have to provide health insurance or pay add. tax 8%), in addition to having to pay surtax on their income...if all these will not affect small businesses (and may result in paying people off), don't know what does...
Anyway ANY tax increase in a time like this is a bad idea, and everybody knows that...last person to pass tax increases in a recession was Hoover and it led to the depression...

this is VERY OLD article, which discusses an old version of the house bill.
i believe the current bill does not have a new tax idea or a surtax idea.
again, the healthcare plan by itself would not hurt economy, however if they do it wrong it could.
i do hope a bill will emerge that would somehow allow for healthcare coverage for all Americans.

again, the healthcare plan by itself would not hurt economy, however if they do it wrong it could.
i do hope a bill will emerge that would somehow allow for healthcare coverage for all Americans.
Mike, I didn't know you believe in utopia...:-)

healthcare coverage for everyone is utopia? the entire developed world outside the US lives in utopia?

No, utopia is that somehow you can cover everybody (against some people's will btw (some are even poor who qualify for Medicaid today!! and some with incomes over $75K who choose not to buy coverage) without somebody paying for it, and not affecting the economy...
and how is "the entire developed world's economy" doing compared to the US, btw??...

so, those who "chose" not to buy coverage and get really sick.. what happens to them?

Well, it all depends...some are saving money for such things through their Health Saving Accounts...if they are poor, they will be covered through programs already in place...there are lots of places that raise money for people in need without means...etc...hospitals provide financial assistance/discounts...
I am sure you know all these...:-)
btw, anyone who believes in the myth of utilizing less ER services with availability of Healthcare for everyone should take a look with what's going in MA (thanks to Romney(sc) )...their ERs are going broke (because their healthcare is "free", people are using ERs as primary services)...

ERs are a loss center for every hospital, does not matter which state you are in, same way trauma department also loses money for every hospital... specifically due to those people who chose not to buy health insurance and can't afford to pay their ER/trauma fees.
So 2 things happen most of the time
1) Patient defaults in their debt to the hospital and goes into bankruptcy
2) Hospital takes a loss on the case
By far not everyone can qualify for medicaid..
For example.. if a person has asset to their name ( home, car, 401k) even after they exhaust their savings would not be able to qualify until they drain all those.
This is totally a lose-lose proposition..
Mandating health coverage the same way we mandate car insurance is definitely the way to go.

***********.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/24/er_visits_costs_in_mass_climb/
please read this article about the MA ER situation SINCE they've initiated UNIVERSAL coverage (the costs have gone up)...
Mandating health coverage the same way we mandate car insurance is definitely the way to go.
Now, I thought it was all about healthcare reform without hurting the economy...how do we "mandate" a family of four with an annual income of $35K to buy coverage?? can they really afford it?
1. You either mandate their employer to provide it - which will ultimately hurt the economy...
OR
2. You tax others to help them buy it - which will also hurt the economy...
Tell me if I am missing something...

so, what is a family with $35K income to do?
constructive proposals?
Now if you have this level of income, you can get coverage for children through CHIPS (400% poverty level cutoff), but what about the adults?