Lawmakers are back in Washington today to wrangle over health care reform -- particularly the cost of overhauling the system.
But what about the cost to individuals? Lawmakers want to expand insurance to some 47 million Americans. But what if the premiums are still too high for folks to afford them?
I take a look at the affordability question in a story today that draws on an example from Howard County. There, an innovative program offering access to doctors for as little as $50 a month -- far cheaper than any of the Congressional proposals would offer. Yet, it's still too expensive for some people.
Key to making insurance affordable would be providing subsidies large enough for low and moderate income people. But for now, Congress hasn't decided how many people would qualify for subsidies and for how much.
Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard County's health officer, told me that the subsidies should be vastly increased to make insurance affordable to more Americans. But just where would that money come from? For now, I guess we'll just have to stay tuned to the debate ...
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