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Senate health care plan: How does it work for you?

The Senate's new health care proposal meant to repeal and replace Obamacare could cost older Americans thousands of extra dollars out of pocket.

Under the new proposal, age will be a factor in how much the government thinks someone should pay.

Depending on who you are, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that low and moderate income Americans should have a cap on how much they have to spend on health care premiums.

But how much someone pays and who's eligible for tax credits to offset health care spending depends on who controls the purse strings.

Under Obamacare, a single, 31-year-old woman had her premiums capped at about $2,500 a year.

In the new Senate proposal, Republicans said she should pay less.

She saved big, with premiums maxing out at just $1,300 a year.

But as that woman ages and nears retirement age while making $48,000 a year, it’s bad news.

Under Obamacare, she was on the hook for about $4,600.

But the Senate plan removes that cap, with no financial protection if her premiums go up.

And a married couple just a year or two away from being eligible for Medicare ends up getting gouged too.

Together, they had to pay up to $5,300 under Obamacare.

The Senate proposal ups that nearly $9,000.

In both cases, older patients are likely to face higher premiums from the get-go.

Obamacare had limited them to paying three times more than younger, healthier people.

The Senate plan would allow insurance companies to charge them up to five times the cost of that original young woman's health care plan.

A break down of how the proposal affects certain age groups: 

Single Woman, age difference

Single Woman

31

Making $30,000

Obamacare: Capped at $2,454, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay just one third of an older patient’s premium

Senate: Capped at $1,290, likely able to buy less expensive bare bones plan, could pay just one fifth of an older patient’s premium

Single Woman

62

Making $48,000

Obamacare: $4,637, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay 3 times a younger patient’s premium

Senate: No Cap, likely to need more expensive and complete coverage than someone younger, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium

Various households of two

Single Parent with One child

34

Making $45,000

Obamacare: Capped at $4,347, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay just one third of an older patient’s premium

Senate: Capped at $2,655, likely able to buy less expensive bare bones plan, could pay just one fifth of an older patient’s premium

Married Couple

27 and 29

Making $55,000

Obamacare: $5,313, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay just one third of an older patient’s premium

Senate Proposal: $4,895, likely able to buy less expensive bare bones plan, could pay just one fifth of an older patient’s premium, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium

Married Couple

58 and 59

Making $58,000 combined

Obamacare: Capped at $5,603, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay 3 times a younger patient’s premium

Senate: No Cap, likely to need more expensive and complete coverage than someone younger, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium

Families of Five, age difference

Family of Five

Parents are 34 and 35

Making $86,000 combined

Obamacare: Capped at $8,307, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay just one third of an older patient’s premium

Senate: Capped at $5,074, likely able to buy less expensive bare bones plan, could pay just one fifth of an older patient’s premium

Family of Five

Parents are 54 and 55

Making $86,000

Obamacare: Capped at $8,308, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay 3 times a younger patient’s premium

Senate: Capped at $9,030, likely to need more expensive and complete coverage than someone younger, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium

About to hit retirement

Married Couple

63 and 64

Making $16,000

Obamacare: $325, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay 3 times a younger patient’s premium

Senate: $320, likely to need more expensive and complete coverage than someone younger, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium

(but thanks to Medicaid cuts, someone on such low income could find themselves losing coverage)

Married Couple

63 and 64

Making $55,000

Obamacare: $5,313, forced to buy more expensive comprehensive care, could pay 3 times a younger patient’s premium

Senate Proposal: $8,910, likely to need more expensive and complete coverage than someone younger, could pay up to 5 times a younger patient’s premium