The_AT path_NN1 to_TO reform_VVI For_IF nearly_RR a_AT1 year_NNT1 ,_, Americans_NN2 have_VH0 watched_VVN and_CC listened_VVN as_CSA health_NN1 care_NN1 reform_NN1 legislation_NN1 was_VBDZ discussed_VVN ,_, crafted_VVD and_CC passed_VVN by_II the_AT U.S._NP1 Congress_NN1 ._. 
The_AT long_JJ ,_, often_RR bitter_JJ fight_NN1 over_II health_NN1 care_NN1 reform_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX end_VVI Thursday_NPD1 morning_NNT1 ._. 
Following_VVG House_NN1 approval_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE version_NN1 of_IO health_NN1 reform_NN1 on_II Nov._NPM1 8_MC ,_, U.S._NP1 Senate_NN1 passage_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 separate_JJ bill_NN1 Thursday_NPD1 was_VBDZ merely_RR Round_II Two_MC in_II this_DD1 heavyweight_NN1 bout_NN1 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, a_AT1 conference_NN1 committee_NN1 of_IO House_NN1 and_CC Senate_NN1 members_NN2 will_VM try_VVI to_TO work_VVI out_RP a_AT1 compromise_NN1 bill_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ both_DB2 chambers_NN2 would_VM then_RT have_VHI to_TO approve_VVI in_II identical_JJ form_NN1 before_CS it_PPH1 would_VM go_VVI to_II President_NNB Obama_NP1 ._. 
And_CC while_CS there_EX is_VBZ much_RR the_AT two_MC bills_NN2 agree_VV0 on_RP ,_, there_EX is_VBZ much_RR they_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_RP as_RR21 well_RR22 ,_, including_II the_AT effective_JJ date_NN1 of_IO the_AT legislation_NN1 :_: Jan._NPM1 1_MC1 ,_, 2013_MC ,_, for_IF most_DAT provisions_NN2 of_IO the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 ,_, and_CC Jan._NPM1 1_MC1 ,_, 2014_MC ,_, for_IF most_DAT provisions_NN2 of_IO the_AT Senate_NN1 bill_NN1 ._. 
In_RR21 general_RR22 ,_, both_DB2 bills_NN2 would_VM extend_VVI coverage_NN1 to_II many_DA2 of_IO the_AT 46.3_MC million_NNO people_NN in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 who_PNQS do_VD0 not_XX have_VHI medical_JJ insurance_NN1 ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM require_VVI most_DAT individuals_NN2 to_TO get_VVI insurance_NN1 or_CC pay_VV0 a_AT1 penalty_NN1 for_IF failing_VVG to_TO do_VDI so_RR ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM establish_VVI subsidies_NN2 to_TO help_VVI those_DD2 who_PNQS could_VM not_XX otherwise_RR afford_VVI insurance_NN1 ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM require_VVI most_DAT companies_NN2 to_TO offer_VVI insurance_NN1 plans_VVZ to_II their_APPGE employees_NN2 and_CC pay_VV0 the_AT bulk_NN1 of_IO the_AT premiums_NN2 or_CC pay_VV0 penalties_NN2 for_IF failing_VVG to_TO do_VDI so_RR ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM establish_VVI tax_NN1 credits_VVZ to_TO help_VVI employers_NN2 cover_VVI the_AT costs_NN2 of_IO insurance_NN1 ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM bar_VVI the_AT use_NN1 of_IO subsidies_NN2 for_IF the_AT purchase_NN1 of_IO insurance_NN1 covering_VVG abortions_NN2 in_II most_DAT cases_NN2 ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM limit_VVI subsidies_NN2 to_II citizens_NN2 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC legal_JJ immigrants_NN2 ._. 
Both_DB2 would_VM dramatically_RR expand_VVI Medicaid_NP1 ._. 
However_RR ,_, the_AT bills_NN2 disagree_VV0 on_II the_AT amount_NN1 of_IO the_AT penalties_NN2 for_IF individuals_NN2 who_PNQS do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI insurance_NN1 and_CC employers_NN2 who_PNQS do_VD0 n't_XX offer_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_II standards_NN2 for_IF exempting_VVG individuals_NN2 and_CC companies_NN2 from_II the_AT penalties_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_II the_AT amount_NN1 and_CC eligibility_NN1 standards_NN2 for_IF subsidies_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_II abortion_NN1 rules_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_II the_AT income_NN1 level_NN1 at_II which_DDQ non-disabled_JJ childless_JJ adults_NN2 would_VM become_VVI eligible_JJ for_IF Medicaid_NP1 for_IF the_AT first_MD time_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT bills_NN2 have_VH0 different_JJ price_NN1 tags_NN2 and_CC disagree_VV0 on_II how_RRQ to_TO pay_VVI for_IF them_PPHO2 ._. 
And_CC those_DD2 are_VBR just_RR some_DD of_IO the_AT differences_NN2 among_II those_DD2 who_PNQS support_VV0 health_NN1 care_NN1 reform_NN1 ._. 
The_AT conference_NN1 committee_NN1 will_VM have_VHI its_APPGE work_NN1 cut_VVN out_RP for_IF it_PPH1 ._. 
Negotiations_NN2 between_II the_AT House_NN1 and_CC Senate_NN1 are_VBR expected_VVN to_TO begin_VVI next_MD week_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB some_DD officials_NN2 said_VVD a_AT1 compromise_NN1 might_VM not_XX be_VBI reached_VVN before_II February_NPM1 ._. 
If_CS a_AT1 compromise_NN1 bill_NN1 does_VDZ become_VVI law_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 will_VM go_VVI down_RP with_IW the_AT enactment_NN1 of_IO Social_JJ Security_NN1 ,_, Medicare_NP1 and_CC Medicaid_VVD as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT important_JJ pieces_NN2 of_IO social_JJ legislation_NN1 in_II the_AT history_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
The_AT Kaiser_NNB Family_NP1 Foundation_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ has_VHZ been_VBN tracking_JJ public_NN1 opinion_NN1 on_II health_NN1 care_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 dozen_NNO years_NNT2 ,_, found_VVD this_DD1 month_NNT1 that_CST 54_MC percent_NNU of_IO Americans_NN2 support_VV0 health_NN1 care_NN1 reform_NN1 ,_, while_CS 41_MC percent_NNU say_VV0 the_AT country_NN1 ca_VM n't_XX afford_VVI to_TO take_VVI it_PPH1 on_RP right_RR now_RT ._. 
Within_II those_DD2 numbers_NN2 is_VBZ a_AT1 deep_JJ political_JJ divide_NN1 :_: 75_MC percent_NNU of_IO Democrats_NN2 support_VV0 reform_NN1 ,_, while_CS 67_MC percent_NNU of_IO Republicans_NN2 oppose_VV0 it_PPH1 and_CC 53_MC percent_NNU of_IO independents_NN2 support_VV0 it_PPH1 ._. 
The_AT poll_NN1 also_RR found_VVN that_CST 35_MC percent_NNU believe_VV0 they_PPHS2 would_VM be_VBI better_JJR off_RP if_CS Congress_NN1 passes_VVZ health_NN1 reform_NN1 ;_; 27_MC percent_NNU think_VV0 they_PPHS2 would_VM be_VBI worse_JJR off_RP ;_; and_CC 32_MC percent_NNU do_VD0 n't_XX think_VVI it_PPH1 would_VM have_VHI much_DA1 impact_NN1 on_II them_PPHO2 personally_RR ._. 
Of_IO Kansas_NP1 '_GE two_MC senators_NN2 and_CC four_MC representatives_NN2 ,_, only_RR Johnson_NP1 County_NN1 Democratic_JJ Rep._NNB Dennis_NP1 Moore_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS will_VM retire_VVI after_II completing_VVG his_APPGE 11th_MD term_NN1 in_II Congress_NN1 ,_, voted_VVN in_II31 favor_II32 of_II33 health_NN1 care_NN1 reform_NN1 ._. 
Moore_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 supported_VVD the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 "_" because_CS it_PPH1 addresses_VVZ the_AT issues_NN2 of_IO affordability_NN1 ,_, fiscal_JJ responsibility_NN1 ,_, quality_NN1 and_CC choice_NN1 ._. "_" 
"_" This_DD1 bill_NN1 will_VM not_XX only_RR dramatically_RR improve_VVI the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 system_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 who_PNQS already_RR have_VH0 insurance_NN1 they_PPHS2 like_VV0 and_CC want_VV0 to_TO keep_VVI ,_, it_PPH1 benefits_NN2 those_DD2 who_PNQS do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI insurance_NN1 now_RT ._. "_" 
After_II Thursday_NPD1 's_GE vote_NN1 ,_, Sen._NNB Pat_NP1 Roberts_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 voted_VVD against_II the_AT Senate_NN1 bill_NN1 because_CS he_PPHS1 believed_VVD it_PPH1 would_VM raise_VVI taxes_NN2 ,_, cut_VV0 Medicare_NP1 ,_, do_VD0 nothing_PN1 to_TO reduce_VVI the_AT cost_NN1 of_IO health_NN1 care_NN1 and_CC fail_VV0 to_TO ensure_VVI that_CST those_DD2 in_II need_VM have_VHI access_NN1 to_TO care_VVI ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 said_VVD before_II this_DD1 bill_NN1 was_VBDZ like_II an_AT1 old_JJ socialized_JJ medicine_NN1 pickup_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO barbed_JJ wire_NN1 wrapped_VVN around_II the_AT axel_NN1 ,_, "_" Roberts_NP1 said_VVD in_II a_AT1 statement_NN1 ._. 
"_" Well_RR now_RT the_AT Majority_NN1 wants_VVZ to_TO sell_VVI it_PPH1 to_II the_AT American_JJ people_NN like_II a_AT1 shiny_JJ new_JJ F-150_FO ._. "_" 
Throughout_II the_AT debate_NN1 ,_, conservatives_NN2 ,_, largely_RR Republicans_NN2 ,_, have_VH0 attacked_VVN everything_PN1 from_II the_AT cost_NN1 of_IO the_AT bills_NN2 ,_, the_AT individual_JJ mandates_NN2 ,_, the_AT impact_NN1 on_II small_JJ business_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 government_NN1 run_NN1 alternative_NN1 to_II private_JJ insurance_NN1 (_( included_VVN only_RR in_II the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 )_) and_CC the_AT basic_JJ notion_NN1 of_IO the_AT reforms_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ they_PPHS2 decried_VVD as_II the_AT first_MD step_NN1 on_II a_AT1 slippery_JJ slope_NN1 toward_II socialized_JJ medicine_NN1 ._. 
And_CC there_EX are_VBR some_DD uninsured_JJ people_NN who_PNQS remain_VV0 wary_JJ of_IO the_AT bills_NN2 and_CC the_AT possibility_NN1 that_CST they_PPHS2 would_VM be_VBI required_VVN to_TO get_VVI insurance_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 feels_VVZ like_CS they_PPHS2 just_RR want_VV0 to_TO reach_VVI inside_II my_APPGE pocket_NN1 ,_, "_" Mark_NP1 Barban_NN1 of_IO Hutchinson_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Barban_JJ works_NN full_JJ time_NNT1 for_IF Home_NN1 Depot_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ offers_VVZ insurance_NN1 to_II its_APPGE employees_NN2 ._. 
However_RR ,_, Barban_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 has_VHZ n't_XX signed_VVN up_RP for_IF it_PPH1 because_CS more_DAR than_CSN half_DB his_APPGE paycheck_NN1 goes_VVZ to_TO pay_VVI child_NN1 support_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 sees_VVZ it_PPH1 as_II a_AT1 choice_NN1 between_II eating_VVG or_CC having_VHG health_NN1 insurance_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 spend_VV0 everything_PN1 I_PPIS1 got_VVD ,_, every_AT1 month_NNT1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 gets_VVZ his_APPGE medical_JJ care_NN1 through_II Prairie_NN1 Star_NN1 Health_NN1 Center_NN1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT "_" safety_NN1 net_NN1 "_" clinics_NN2 that_CST provide_VV0 a_AT1 wide_JJ range_NN1 of_IO basic_JJ services_NN2 and_CC prescription_NN1 drugs_NN2 at_II dramatically_RR reduced_VVN cost_NN1 for_IF low-income_JJ people_NN ._. 
He_PPHS1 likes_VVZ being_VBG able_JK to_TO pay_VVI for_IF doctors_NN2 and_CC medicine_NN1 as_CSA he_PPHS1 needs_VVZ them_PPHO2 ._. 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 admits_VVZ that_CST he_PPHS1 does_VDZ n't_XX know_VVI what_DDQ he_PPHS1 would_VM do_VDI if_CS he_PPHS1 ever_RR got_VVN sick_JJ enough_RR that_CST he_PPHS1 needed_VVD to_TO be_VBI hospitalized_VVN or_CC have_VH0 surgery_NN1 ._. 
In_II 2008_MC ,_, there_EX were_VBDR 46.3_MC million_NNO people_NN who_PNQS ,_, like_II Barban_NP1 ,_, did_VDD not_XX have_VHI medical_JJ insurance_NN1 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ 15.4_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT population_NN1 ._. 
In_II Kansas_NP1 ,_, that_DD1 number_NN1 was_VBDZ 338,000_MC ,_, or_CC about_RG 12.4_MC percent_NNU ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT Kansas_NP1 Health_NN1 Institute_NN1 ._. 
Nationwide_RL ,_, in_II31 terms_II32 of_II33 raw_JJ numbers_NN2 ,_, whites_NN2 made_VVD up_RP the_AT largest_JJT ethnic_JJ group_NN1 of_IO uninsured_JJ (_( 21.3_MC million_NNO )_) ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT U.S._NP1 Census_NN1 Bureau_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB no_AT ethnic_JJ group_NN1 had_VHD a_AT1 higher_JJR uninsured_JJ rate_NN1 than_CSN the_AT Hispanic_JJ population_NN1 (_( 30.7%_FO )_) ._. 
Among_II adults_NN2 ,_, the_AT largest_JJT blocks_NN2 of_IO uninsured_JJ were_VBDR those_DD2 age_NN1 18-24_MCMC (_( 8.2_MC million_NNO )_) and_CC those_DD2 25-34_MCMC (_( 10.8_MC million_NNO )_) ,_, the_AT so-called_JJ "_" young_JJ invincibles_NN2 ,_, "_" those_DD2 who_PNQS were_VBDR usually_RR strong_JJ and_CC healthy_JJ and_CC saw_VVD no_AT need_NN1 for_IF insurance_NN1 and_CC those_DD2 who_PNQS were_VBDR just_RR starting_VVG their_APPGE working_JJ lives_NN2 and_CC saw_VVD insurance_NN1 farther_RRR down_RP the_AT priority_NN1 list_NN1 than_CSN cars_NN2 ,_, homes_NN2 ,_, furnishings_NN2 and_CC other_JJ items_NN2 ._. 
Income_NN1 is_VBZ another_DD1 major_JJ factor_NN1 in_II medical_JJ insurance_NN1 ._. 
While_CS only_RR 8.2_MC percent_NNU of_IO those_DD2 with_IW household_NN1 income_NN1 of_IO $75,000_NNU or_CC more_DAR are_VBR uninsured_JJ ,_, 24.5_MC percent_NNU of_IO those_DD2 with_IW household_NN1 income_NN1 under_RG $25,000_NNU are_VBR uninsured_JJ ._. 
Twenty-six_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT unemployed_JJ were_VBDR also_RR uninsured_JJ ._. 
But_CCB having_VHG a_AT1 job_NN1 was_VBDZ no_AT guarantee_NN1 ,_, either_RR ._. 
Of_IO those_DD2 who_PNQS work_VV0 part-time_JJ ,_, 25.4_MC percent_NNU lacked_VVD insurance_NN1 ,_, and_CC 17.2_MC percent_NNU of_IO those_DD2 employed_VVN full_JJ time_NNT1 also_RR were_VBDR uninsured_JJ ._. 
In_II Kansas_NP1 ,_, the_AT uninsured_JJ rate_NN1 tends_VVZ to_TO be_VBI highest_JJT in_II rural_JJ areas_NN2 and_CC lowest_RRT in_II urban_JJ areas_NN2 ._. 
All_DB the_AT counties_NN2 with_IW 13_MC percent_NNU or_CC fewer_DAR uninsured_JJ residents_NN2 were_VBDR east_ND1 of_IO a_AT1 north-south_ND1 line_NN1 drawn_VVN through_II Reno_NP1 County_NN1 ._. 
All_DB 22_MC counties_NN2 with_IW 20_MC percent_NNU or_CC more_RGR uninsured_JJ were_VBDR west_ND1 of_IO that_DD1 line_NN1 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 the_AT Kansas_NP1 Health_NN1 Institute_NN1 ,_, 10.8_MC percent_NNU of_IO all_DB Reno_NP1 County_NN1 residents_NN2 were_VBDR uninsured_JJ in_II 2005_MC ._. 
That_DD1 ranked_VVD 11th-best_RRT among_II Kansas_NP1 '_GE 105_MC counties_NN2 ._. 
Eight_MC western_JJ Kansas_NP1 counties_NN2 had_VHD uninsured_JJ rates_NN2 of_IO more_DAR than_CSN 25_MC percent_NNU :_: Cheyenne_NP1 (_( 29.5_MC percent_NNU )_) ,_, Hamilton_NP1 (_( 28.3_MC )_) ,_, Stanton_NP1 (_( 27.0_MC )_) ,_, Haskell_NP1 (_( 26.8_MC )_) ,_, Gray_NP1 and_CC Sheridan_NP1 (_( 25.6_MC )_) and_CC Greeley_NP1 and_CC Wichita_NP1 (_( 25.5_MC )_) ._. 
While_CS the_AT Congressional_JJ Budget_NN1 Office_NN1 has_VHZ estimated_VVN that_CST the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 would_VM extend_VVI medical_JJ insurance_NN1 to_II 36_MC million_NNO of_IO the_AT uninsured_JJ and_CC the_AT Senate_NN1 bill_NN1 would_VM pick_VVI up_RP 31_MC million_NNO ,_, the_AT Kansas_NP1 Health_NN1 Policy_NN1 Authority_NN1 estimates_VVZ that_CST 240,000_MC of_IO the_AT 338,000_MC uninsured_JJ Kansans_NN2 would_VM be_VBI covered_VVN under_II the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 and_CC 190,000_MC would_VM be_VBI insured_VVN under_II the_AT Senate_NN1 bill_NN1 ._. 
