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House Democrats pass late night health bill that may disappoint
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House Democrats pass late night health bill that may disappoint
House Democrats were crying and dancing late last night as their health reform legislation passed by a squeaky 5-member margin (220-215). But if polls have been accurate and the majority of Americans are looking for a public option that looks like Medicare as it is today – that is allowing those under 65 to buy into the popular Medicare plan – this almost 2000 page bill will be a big disappointment.
It contains an option that would significantly expand Medicaid- a federal medical assistance program passed in 1964 under Title XIX of the Social Security Act for low-income individuals and families who lack access to private health insurance.
Only one Republican - Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana voted for this bill which would require most Americans to obtain health insurance or face penalties and most employers to provide coverage or pay a tax penalty of up to 8 percent of their payroll. Moderate-income people would be given subsidies to help them buy insurance from private companies or from a government insurance plan offered through an exchange. People who want to sign up would pay premiums for the government-run plan, just as they would pay for competing private plans offered in the exchange. Some small businesses would be able to buy coverage through the public plan, but most people who get their insurance through a large employer could not participate.
Dennis Kucinich, Democrat from Ohio, was among the 39 Democrats who voted against the bill. He said that one reason for his negative vote was the fact that this bill does not allow individual states to implement their own universal health plan.
Republicans have vowed to keep this legislation from ultimately passing. The Democrats' dancing and crying may be premature.
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