1. The constitution-loving US citizens are worried Obama's health care proposals will lead to a government takeover of health care, so worried that they're not only exercising their First Amendment rights at Town Hall meetings, but also their Second Amendment rights. Here's what being proposed:
2. Single-payer: Under a single-payer system, the financing system relies on one "payer" -- which could be a government-run agency -- to fund all health care costs billed by doctors, hospitals and other health professionals.
3. Public option: A public option is a government-funded, government-run health care option, similar to Medicare. Under the plan, people would pay premiums 10 to 20 percent less than private insurance.
4. Private insurance: Private insurance is coverage offered by a company other than the government.
5. Co-op: Nonprofit health cooperatives are being proposed as an option to compete with the private sector and as an alternative to a government-sponsored public health insurance option. Co-ops are owned and governed by the same people they insure.
6. Mandated coverage: Some lawmakers have proposed mandated coverage, which would require all Americans to get a minimum amount of insurance. The mandate could be enforced with a tax penalty.
7. Blue Dog coalition: The Blue Dog coalition is a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats in the House. The Blue Dogs insist that health care reform should preserve patient choice and maintain competition in the marketplace without adding to the national deficit. They'll play a critical role in getting a bill through the House.
8. eRecords: President Obama wants to computerize all records within 5 years as a way to increase quality of health care and decrease costs. Under his plan to modernize health care, all health records would be standardized and electronic.
9. rescission: Health care rescission is the process by which insurers cancel coverage, often after finding that a person omitted pertinent information on his or her application. Some companies have been accused of improperly rescinding policies as a way to avoid paying for expensive treatments.
10. end-of-life counseling: The current version of the House bill contains a provision for end-of-life counseling for Medicare beneficiaries who want it, as long as that individual has not had an end-of-life care or "advance care planning" consultation within the last 5 years.
Bonus: Medicare and Medicaid are public health options. Medicare is a government-sponsored program for people 65 years or older. Medicaid is a health care program for low income individuals and families.
