The airwaves have been filled with the Republican talking points, put forth by Mitch McConnell, that the Senate health care reform will result in "higher premiums, higher taxes, and massive cuts to Medicare." Of course, those of us who live in the reality-based community know that's utter bullshit. Nevertheless, we also know that talking points can easily take root in the general population. And for spineless, easily corruptible Democrats, popular perception - however ill-informed it may be - is more important than reality.
Therefore, it's important that we disseminate the truth -- Jonathon Gruber, an economist at MIT who conducted "microsimulation" analysis of the Senate HCR bill using data from the CBO, concludes that the bill will actually save money for those who purchase individual market coverage:
Gruber concludes that people purchasing individual insurance would save an annual $200 (singles) to $500 (families) in 2009 dollars. And people with low incomes would receive premium tax credits that would reduce the price that they pay for health insurance by as much as $2,500 to $7,500.
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