The Nuts and Bolts of Reform Proposals

Covering the Uninsured.

This may be health-care reform's biggest question: how to provide coverage to the estimated 46 million Americans who are uninsured. Answers here seem especially elusive. It's virtually certain that employer-provided insurance would remain. Obama has proposed that it could be supplemented by a federal "health insurance exchange" -- a kind of large pool that individuals could use to comparison shop for health insurance.

Changes to Medicare reimbursement.

Not for the first time, proponents of health-care reform are advocating streamlining the unwieldy Medicare reimbursement system, making sure doctors and institutions aren't overpaid for care, instituting a competitive payment system, curbing abuse, and keeping increases in reimbursements in line with economic gains.