In addition to the expansion of Medicaid and Medicare (which will start at age 55) perhaps the most interesting part of the healthcare compromise is to open up a national group health care policy to everyone in the nation. From what has been said so far it will be very similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program which covers members of Congress and federal employees. This compromise could turn into a win win situation for the uninsured and underinsured who will now have access to healthcare, for businesses who will now be able to provide health insurance at an affordable price, for insurance companies who will be able to market their group policies to a much larger pool of people, and even for the healthcare industry which will have a patient base that will be nearly 100% insured.
You can get an idea about some of the rates that federal employees currently pay at the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program site. For example Government Employees Health Association charges individuals a rate of around $43 per month for a single person and a little under $100 for an employee, spouse, and children. If the federal government negotiates similar rates for a national plan it will be an economic boom for many businesses especially small ones who will be able to have a fully insured and healthier workforce.
