Jill Wechsler

Coverage percentages in the high 90s needed to reach critical mass and spread risk

Congress is hard at work blending multiple bills while most believe reform will be enacted this year

More modest legislative package would stand to gain bipartisan approval in light of Baucus plan reaction

Exchanges could channel subsidies, specify plan design and provide an efficient way to enroll members

Insurers believe the campaign aims to distract attention away from faltering support for public plan option

The public plan could be a co-op, or it could be placed under a trigger mechanism that would kick in if the private market doesn't live up to expectations

Democrats back insurance market changes, coverage mandates and a public plan option. House leaders generally ignored Republican protests.

Private insurers might need to offer parallel incentives for the accountable care organization model to have critical mass in paying for quality

Sin taxes and taxes on benefits could raise a portion of the $1 trillion we need