Word: helpfulness
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...enough to make insurance affordable for the middle class. That's a crucial question, because the legislation would, for the first time, impose a requirement that virtually everyone have some kind of coverage or face a fine. Under Baucus' bill, the government would provide subsidies to help those earning up to three times the poverty level (in other words, a family of four making as much as $66,000 a year) buy insurance as well as set caps on their out-of-pocket expenses. (See 10 players in health-care reform...
...many of his fellow Democrats say that help doesn't go far enough - especially in comparison with the version that the House is working on, which would provide assistance to those earning up to 400% of the poverty level (or a family of four making up to $88,000). "We're working to address that concern," Baucus said, adding that one idea "very much on the table" is to increase the refundable tax credits for those purchasing insurance. That, however, would most likely increase the overall price tag for the measure, which in its current form would cost $774 billion...
...insurance companies say they would be forced to pass on to their customers. Under the bill as it is currently written, that tax would kick in on plans that cost more than $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families. Health-policy experts say an excise tax could help curb health spending overall by discouraging the purchase of lavish plans that lead to overuse of the health-care system. The levy would also raise $215 billion over the next decade - or about one-quarter of the cost of the bill. (Watch TIME's video "Uninsured Again...
...Australia's conservative opposition, the Liberal Party of Australia, blames this year's spike of boat arrivals - almost all with the help of human smugglers from Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of Asia - on Rudd's new border policy. If nothing else, the Pacific Solution was at least an effective deterrent, they claim. In 2001, before Howard's program was implemented, there were 5,516 arrivals by boat; by 2002, there was just one. The numbers stayed below 60 until 2007, but have been increasing steadily ever since. "When you weaken laws for unauthorized arrivals, you are in fact creating...
...highest incidence of assaults. Uniformed officers also patrolled major Tokyo stations, such as Tokyo, Ikebukuro and Shibuya, where posters were hung reading "Groping is a crime" and "Groping can ruin your life." Policewomen gave self-defense demonstrations, and TV commercials featuring local high school students were aired to help spread the word...