Highlights of health proposal unveiled by House Republicans

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Provides tax credits for people purchasing their own health insurance. The credits would be keyed primarily to age, rising as people get older. Financial assistance would be phased out for individuals making more than $75,000 and married couples earning more than $150,000. Credits could be used to buy any plan approved by a state.

Eliminates cost-sharing subsidies in Obama’s Affordable Care Act that helped people with modest incomes meet the costs of insurance deductibles and co-payments. States, however, would have the option of providing similar assistance with federal financing.

Expands the contributions consumers can make to their health savings accounts, which people with high-deductible insurance can use to cover expenses their plans don’t pay for.

Protects people with pre-existing health problems from being denied coverage. However, consumers must maintain continuous coverage. Otherwise, they would face a flat 30 percent surcharge on top of their premiums. States could use federal money to create high-risk pools as insurers of last resort. Preserves Affordable Care Act provision that lets adults stay on parental coverage until they turn 26. Allows insurers to charge their oldest customers up to five times more than what they charge young adults. The ACA limits that to three times.

Prohibits use of tax credits to purchase any plan that covers elective abortions. Currently, if a health plan covers abortions, it must collect a separate premium to pay for such procedures.