House Bill (H.R. 3962)

Senate Bill (H.R. 3590)

Individuals must obtain insurance or pay a penalty of 2.5% of adjusted gross income over $9,350 for individuals and $18,700 for couples.

Individuals must obtain insurance or pay a fine starting at $95 in 2014 and rising to $750 by 2016. No penalty if the cost of cheapest available plan exceeds 8% of household income.

Employers must pay 65% of family premiums (72.5% for single coverage) or pay a penalty based on payroll. Small businesses with less than $500,000 of annual payroll are exempt; payrolls up to $750,000 would have a 6% payroll tax penalty; >$750,000 get the full penalty of an 8% payroll tax.

Prohibits employers from reducing retirees health benefits after they have retired, unless the reduction is also made to benefits for active employees.

Does not require employers to offer health insurance. However, if even one employee receives a subsidy through the new exchanges, firms with more than 50 employees would have to pay a fine of $750 for each person on their payroll.

Sets up a national insurance exchange (plus states could set up their own alternatives), where people without access to affordable coverage through an employer could select among competing plans.

Also open to employers with 25 or fewer employees in the first year, 50 or fewer in the second year and 100 or fewer in the third year, and potentially expanded to larger employers over time, "with the goal of allowing all employers access."

Sets up state-run exchanges (or they could collaborate on regional ones), where people without access to affordable coverage through an employer could select among competing plans.

Also open to employers with 50 or fewer employees, and states could allow employers with up to 100 employees to participate. Starting in 2017, states could also allow larger businesses to participate.

Subsidies available to households earning up to 400% of the poverty level ($88,200 for a family of four in 2009).

Tax credits would be available on a sliding scale for individuals and families who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($88,200 for a family of four in 2009).

Employers with 25 or fewer workers and average wages of $40,000 or less would qualify for tax credits. The amount, up to 50% of premium costs, phases out as firm size and average wages increase. The credit would not be allowed for employees earning more than $80,000 a year.

Employers with 25 or fewer workers and average wages of $40,000 or less would qualify for tax credits. The amount, up to 50% of premium costs, phases out as firm size and average wages increase.

From 2013 to 2015, the federal government would cover 80% of the cost of a retiree's medical claims of more than $15,000, with a cap at $90,000 - at which point the employer's plan would pay the rest.

The federal government would cover 80% of the cost of a retiree's medical claims of more than $15,000 through 2013, with a cap at $90,000 - at which point the employer's plan would pay the rest.

A new public plan would be available to those eligible to use the insurance exchanges, run by the federal government, which would have to negotiate payment rates with health care providers (rather than use rates tied to Medicare).

Same, except that states that don't want to offer the public plan can decline it ("opt-out").

Bans lifetime dollar limits, premium disparity based on health status and sex, and coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. The bill also would end a federal antitrust exemption that has for decades protected firms from federal investigations.

Bans on lifetime dollar limits, premium disparity based on health status and sex, and coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. The bill would NOT end a federal antitrust exemption that has for decades protected firms from federal investigations.

Limits the maximum premium a plan can charge an older person to 2 times that charged to a younger person.

Limits the maximum premium a plan can charge an older person to 3 times that charged to a younger person.

Four plan levels, ranging from covering 70% of costs to 95% (the patient pays the remainder in deductibles, co-pays, etc.).

Four plan levels, ranging from covering 60% of costs to 90% (the patient pays the remainder in deductibles, co-pays, etc.).

Children can stay on parents' coverage until age 27.

Children can stay on parents' coverage until age 26.

Creates a voluntary federal program to provide long-term care insurance and cash benefits to people with severe disabilities.

Creates a voluntary long-term care insurance program, which will provide a cash benefit to help seniors and people with disabilities obtain services and supports that will enable them to remain in their homes.

Eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventive care and annual check-ups, and improves payments for vaccines. Increases Medicare payments to primary care providers. Phases out the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" by 2019 by progressively increasing coverage limits and decreasing out-of-pocket spending. The federal government will negotiate for lower drug prices for Medicare Part D and require drug manufacturer rebates to be paid to Medicare for beneficiaries eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare D.

Limits cost-sharing requirements in Medicare Advantage plans to the amount charged for the same services in traditional Medicare coverage.

Changes health care provider payments to promote greater care coordination, and more emphasis on quality of care rather than excessive services, and to reduce medical errors and hospital readmissions due to errors.

Adds subsidies for low-income persons to help pay Part B costs. Extend the Special Needs Plan program for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions and those that are dually eligible. Provides assistance to states to better integrate care for dually eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

Eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventive care and annual check-ups, provides information to make healthy decisions.

Provides 50% discount on brand-name drug and biologic prices in the Part D "doughnut hole," starting 7/1/2010. It will also shrink the gap by $500 for 2010.

Limits cost-sharing requirements in Medicare Advantage plans to the amount charged for the same services in traditional Medicare coverage.

Changes health care provider payments to promote greater care coordination, and more emphasis on quality of care rather than excessive services, and to reduce medical errors and hospital readmissions due to errors.

Abortion may not be covered in the public option or in any of the exchange's private plans that take subsidized customers. There is an exception if a woman's life is in danger and for rape or incest.

Bans the use of federal funds for abortion but doesn't go as far as the House bill. It requires at least one plan in the exchange to offer abortion and one that doesn't. Insurers and the public plan option have to segregate federal subsidies for lower income persons into separate accounts and use only the premium money and co-payments contributed by consumers to cover the procedure.

Medicaid would be expanded to provide free health care to all Americans with incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($33,070 for a family of four).

The federal government would pay all costs for those who are newly eligible for the first two years and 91% of costs after that.

Medicaid would be expanded to cover everyone earning below 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($29,327 for a family of four).

The federal government would pay all costs for those who are newly eligible for the first three years. After 2016, the share of federal spending would vary, but average about 90% of the total.

Could buy insurance from the exchanges, but could not get federal subsidies to help pay the costs.

Could not buy insurance from the exchanges, even if they paid the full cost themselves without federal subsidies.

A 5.4% surcharge on single taxpayers earning over $500,000 a year, and over $1 million a year for families.

Squeezes $404 billion from projected growth in Medicare and other federal programs over 10 years, including $117 billion from cuts in Medicare Advantage plans (for which the government pays about 14% more to private insurance plans than it pays for those in traditional Medicare).

A 2.5% excise tax on the medical devices sold for use in the United States. Expected to raise $20 billion from 2013 to 2019.

Includes a 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance plans ($8,500/single and $23,000 family covg.), higher Medicare payroll taxes of 1.95% for those earning >$200k single, $250k family (vs. 1.45% now). Also levies a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery.

Squeezes $436 billion out of the projected growth in Medicare and other federal programs over 10 years, including $118 billion in cuts to federal subsidies for privately offered Medicare Advantage plans.

Annual fees (allocated by market share) on health care companies, and on manufacturers of medical devices and drug makers. Expected to raise more than $100 billion from 2010 to 2019.

$1,052 billion 10-year costs, offset by above revenue raisers, to produce net $109 billion total savings.

$848 billion 10-year costs, offset by above revenue raisers, to produce net $130 billion total savings.