The House of Representatives is planning to vote this weekend on a major overhaul (HR 3962 ) of the health care system.

The goal of the legislation is to rein in health care costs and provide coverage for everyone. Republicans, meantime, are concerned about the cost .

The bill is nearly 2,000 pages long, but here are the seven big things you ought to know about it.

1. The coverage mandate. By 2013, everyone would have to have insurance or face a penalty tax of 2.5 percent for a portion of their income. Exemptions would be given for those with a very low income.

2. The business mandate. By 2013, companies would be required to offer coverage to employees or make a contribution to a pool that offers coverage.

3. The public option. By 2013, a government health insurance plan would be offered and run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Rates would be negotiated with providers but couldn’t be lower than Medicare payment rates.

4. Pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies would be prohibited from denying or reducing coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

5. Abortion. The essential benefits package could not include coverage for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the woman’s life. Insurance companies could offer abortion coverage, but could only use private premium dollars (without any subsidies) for that coverage.

6. Prescription drug coverage. The so-called doughnut hole that requires Medicare patients to pay for prescription drugs up to a point before coverage is reinstated would be phased out by 2019.

7. Taxes. In 2010, a tax surcharge of 5.4 percent would be imposed on incomes of $500,000 for individuals or $1 million for households. A 2.4 percent excise tax would be imposed on the sale or lease of medical equipment.

Scott Montgomery is the managing editor of Congress.org.