Changes

None of the proposed plans are "single payer," at least not initially and publicly so.  "[T]his option has been declared 'off the table' by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who's among those leading the charge for health-care reform in America.  Top Democrats who will be deciding policy in America in 2009, including Baucus and President-elect Barack Obama, say single-payer is 'not politically feasible,' because the public won't strongly support it."<ref name="Single Payer">http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/12/03/state/80st_081203_column.txt</ref>  The biggest supporter of "single payer" was Michigan Democrat John Conyers,<ref name="Single Payer"/> but he lost a key committee chairmanship for the new Congress in 2009.  But note that Baucus's approach does provided for a taxpayer-subsidized government plan to "compete" with private plans, and supporters of this approach may intend for the taxpayer-subsidized plan to squeeze out the private plans over time in order to become a "single payer."

None of the proposed plans are "single payer," at least not initially and publicly so.  "[T]his option has been declared 'off the table' by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who's among those leading the charge for health-care reform in America.  Top Democrats who will be deciding policy in America in 2009, including Baucus and President-elect Barack Obama, say single-payer is 'not politically feasible,' because the public won't strongly support it."<ref name="Single Payer">http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/12/03/state/80st_081203_column.txt</ref>  The biggest supporter of "single payer" was Michigan Democrat John Conyers,<ref name="Single Payer"/> but he lost a key committee chairmanship for the new Congress in 2009.  But note that Baucus's approach does provided for a taxpayer-subsidized government plan to "compete" with private plans, and supporters of this approach may intend for the taxpayer-subsidized plan to squeeze out the private plans over time in order to become a "single payer."

Most of the plans do call for mandatory insurance purchases by individuals, and mandatory insurance benefits by employers.  Currently, only three states have mandatory insurance:<ref>http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=16&issue=20081119</ref>

Most of the plans do call for mandatory insurance purchases by individuals, and mandatory insurance benefits by employers.  Currently, only three states have mandatory insurance:<ref name="investors.com">http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=16&issue=20081119</ref>

:In Massachusetts, individuals must purchase health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Businesses must offer their staff insurance or pay $295 per worker to a fund for the uninsured. Vermont has a similar "pay or play" employer mandate, with a $365 penalty per worker. Hawaii requires employers to provide coverage to all employees working more than 20 hours a week.

:In Massachusetts, individuals must purchase health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Businesses must offer their staff insurance or pay $295 per worker to a fund for the uninsured. Vermont has a similar "pay or play" employer mandate, with a $365 penalty per worker. Hawaii requires employers to provide coverage to all employees working more than 20 hours a week.

Procedurally, Democrats could try to attach a massive new plan to their expected extension and expansion of "SCHIP", which is health coverage for children due to expire in spring 2009.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/daschle-begins-leading-health-care-reform/</ref>  Alternatively, the Democrats could try to insert a massive government takeover of health into a jobs "stimulus" package supposedly to boost the struggling economy.  Either approach would be consistent with Ted Kennedy's desire to move quickly before he leaves office for his own health reasons.  More cautiously, the Democrats could take the entire year of 2009 and even 2010 revising and debating a new health care plan.

Procedurally, Democrats could try to attach a massive new plan to their expected extension and expansion of "SCHIP", which is health coverage for children due to expire in spring 2009.<ref name="thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com">http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/daschle-begins-leading-health-care-reform/</ref>  Alternatively, the Democrats could try to insert a massive government takeover of health into a jobs "stimulus" package supposedly to boost the struggling economy.  Either approach would be consistent with Ted Kennedy's desire to move quickly before he leaves office for his own health reasons.  More cautiously, the Democrats could take the entire year of 2009 and even 2010 revising and debating a new health care plan.

Each of the new Democratic plans is summarized below.

Each of the new Democratic plans is summarized below.

In his book, Daschle proposes leaving the details ''out'' of the legislation, as he considered the details to have been the fatal defect in the Clinton approach of 1993-1994.  Instead, Daschle seeks to delegate the details to an administrative agency.  With Daschle as Secretary of [[HHS]], he may seek delegation of authority to HHS to write regulations containing the important details.  

In his book, Daschle proposes leaving the details ''out'' of the legislation, as he considered the details to have been the fatal defect in the Clinton approach of 1993-1994.  Instead, Daschle seeks to delegate the details to an administrative agency.  With Daschle as Secretary of [[HHS]], he may seek delegation of authority to HHS to write regulations containing the important details.  

Throughout the nation Daschle is coordinating a series of "Health Care Community Discussions" during the last two weeks of December.<ref>http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/daschle-begins-leading-health-care-reform/</ref>

Throughout the nation Daschle is coordinating a series of "Health Care Community Discussions" during the last two weeks of December.<ref name="thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com"/>

== Max Baucus's Plan ==

== Max Baucus's Plan ==

Montana Senator Max Baucus has proposed the most comprehensive and detailed plan.  His approach would require individuals "to enroll in a private or public health care plan or face a sanction, most likely a tax penalty. Large employers would have to offer employees coverage or pay into a fund to help the uninsured. Small firms would be exempt."<ref>http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=16&issue=20081119</ref>  Baucus's plan is similar to the [[Massachusetts plan]] in requiring individuals to purchase insurance.

Montana Senator Max Baucus has proposed the most comprehensive and detailed plan.  His approach would require individuals "to enroll in a private or public health care plan or face a sanction, most likely a tax penalty. Large employers would have to offer employees coverage or pay into a fund to help the uninsured. Small firms would be exempt."<ref name="investors.com"/>  Baucus's plan is similar to the [[Massachusetts plan]] in requiring individuals to purchase insurance.

[[CATO]] critiqued Baucus's plan as follows:<ref name="CATO Baucus">http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9801</ref>

[[CATO]] critiqued Baucus's plan as follows:<ref name="CATO Baucus">http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9801</ref>