By Colby Dunn
News Writer

After hearing the claims of U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) at his Wednesday, Sept. 4 meeting about House Resolution 3200 and reading about these issues elsewhere, we fact-checked a few of the more popular claims about President Obama's health care plan.
This does not cover everything, but hits the highlights, including what Congressman Broun addressed.

Up to 114 million Americans will be forced into a government-run plan
• Not True: The plan will create a health insurance exchange - a virtual supermarket for insurance options, where things like denial for pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps will be government regulated - and the exchange will likely include a "public option," a not-for-profit, government-run insurance plan.
Although the bill does require all Americans to have some form of healthcare, they are not required to choose the public option.

This bill is going to give taxpayer funded free healthcare to illegal aliens
 • Not True: Section 246 in the House bill is called "No federal payment for undocumented aliens," and it clearly states that the government will not offer affordability credits (vouchers for healthcare purchase to low-income Americans) to those not here legally, and other private healthcare insurers already refuse coverage to illegal residents.
Everyone will still get treatment at emergency rooms for life-threatening situations, but that is not a change and has been federal law since 1986.

Employees who don't have “Obama care” will have an extra 2.5 percent tax on their salary
• Half True: Americans who have no healthcare coverage will be subject to the extra tax, but if you keep your existing plan, switch to the "public option" or pick a new, private plan, you won't be taxed as long as you're covered.

This bill would increase our national debt by at least 239 billion
• Half-true: The Congressional Budget Office has said that the plan will increase national debt by 238 billion over 10 years. However, it has also said that projected revenues and cost-saving measures over that period will mean that, by 2019, the increase in the deficit will be $65 billion. 

HR 3200 will cost more than $1 trillion
• True: According to the Congressional Budget Office, the entire bill will cost $1 trillion. The health care coverage portion of the bill will cost much less, but the whole thing will come out to about a trillion.

Will put government bureaucrats between patients and doctors
• Half True: This debate is much like the rationing claims, and it's key to remember from the beginning that there are middle-men between patients and doctors on all healthcare plans, public or not. Insurance providers will not pay for any and all medical measures their customers want to have - they allow access to some doctors and treatments and not to others.
If you choose the public option, those people will, indeed, be government employees. If you don't they will be employees of your insurance provider.

The only people who will be able to keep their insurance are members of Congress.
• Not True: Under section 102, anyone who likes thier healthcare plans will be able to keep them, employer-provided or not. Going forward, those same non-employer plans will not be open for new enrollment unless they conform to the rules of the health insurance exchange. Employer health plans will be open for new enrollment indefinintely, although with more regulations, like limits on premiums, caps and other costs.
Members of Congress will have the option to keep their employer-provided or private healthcare like everyone else. They will also be given the choice to switch to the "public option" or another provider - just like everyone else.
The only people who will be forced into any kind of insurance are those who are currently uninsured, although they can elect to remain uninsured and pay an extra 2.5 percent tax from their paycheck.

For the truth behind more health care claims on both sides of the debate and a simple explanation of the bill itself, visit our blog: mccitizennews.blogspot.com.

Read our blog with more updates here.