Looking at the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Health Care Bill

If health care reform passes the Senate, any differences with the version that passed the House need to be ironed out in conference committee

By: Rachel Gallaher | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: November 23, 2009

If health care reform passes the Senate, any differences with the version that passed the House need to be ironed out in conference committee
Both versions contain a public option, but they are different in a lot of ways.
One key difference is how the government would pay for the bill.
The House bill would raise taxes for Americans who earn at least $500,000 a year.
The Senate plan would hike taxes on high-cost insurance plans.
The House bill stops illegal immigrants from using taxpayer money for health care.
The Senate would ban illegal immigrants from buying health insurance altogether.
That doesn't sit well with Hispanic caucus members.
"That seems to be mean-spirited to me and a dehumanizing point of view. If they have their own money and not a single tax payers dollar is going to be used. Why don't we allow them to provide it?” said Rep. Louis Gutierrez, a democrat from Illinois.
Provisions for abortion also divide the House and Senate.
The House bill bans any abortion coverage for people who use government money to buy insurance.
The Senate bill would let the Secretary of Health and Human Services decide whether abortions would be covered.
It would also allow abortions to be covered in private plans.