Peterson Report Shows Mixed Results on Health Reform Impact
EmailThe Pete G. Peterson Foundation is weighing in heavily with a good news/bad news analysis run by the Lewin Group that projects the impact of House health care bills over the next two decades.
The study, being released later this morning, finds the current legislation would expand the number of Americans with health insurance coverage, but with expanding costs for individuals, employers and the government.
The study estimates that through 2029, 41 million new Americans would obtain health insurance through newly created programs, including 21 million who would be covered in the House bills' proposed public plan. Medicaid enrollment would increase by 10 million, they project.
The study estimates that of those 41 million, almost 30 million people would gain coverage by 2011, a 60 percent reduction of those currently without health insurance. Without reforms, the study projects 49.2 million people (about 16 percent of the population) would be without health insurance by 2011.
For families, savings would vary depending on economic status, those with higher incomes, lower health care needs and younger members would end up paying more for their health care.
To offset higher employer-sponsored cost, they estimate that wage growth would slow. Small businesses would benefit from tax credits.
The bottom line: How does this impact the federal budget? According to the study, reforming the system would meet Obama’s goal of paying for itself over the next 10 years. However, after that period an estimated $1 trillion dollars would be added to the federal deficit during the second 10 year period.
Walker will release the results at 10 a.m. You can read the full report HERE.
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George, how can anyone trust any study from the Lewin Group? They are, as I understand it, owned by United Health Care, and I think it’s clear how ethically challenged that company is. I don’t even think it is worth mentioning. Their bias is transparent.
Posted by: Tom Leigh | September 9, 2009, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Hey Tom — How can you NOT believe that Obamma’s plan will add $1 trillion to the deficit by 2021? By that time, I’ll probably be dead; but my son will be strugling to support his family; and all those little darlings that had such optimism after hearing Obamma’s “Stay in School” pep talk will be wondering how they’re going to get into college.
And Robert Gibbs wants us to talk about reality! Get a grip.
Posted by: G | September 9, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
The best solution is Medicare-for-all, which would be the biggest boon to our business climate and would slow the outsourcing of jobs. But even the media seems on the take from the insurance industry. They refuse to cover the option. Let individuals and companies opt into Medicare at cost. Let everybody else opt out. How’s that for choice?
Posted by: jlohman | October 10, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am