Healthcare Reform Update - 21Dec09

“Senate Clears Initial Procedural Vote on Healthcare Reform”
In the early hours of Monday morning, an initial procedural vote in the Senate approved the healthcare bill, putting it on track for passage later this week.

• This is the first of three votes needed to pass the bill.
• A final vote on the passage of the bill likely will occur on Dec. 24, but the bill still must be reconciled with another healthcare measure passed in the House.
• Not a single Republican voted to advance the measure.
• Republicans argue that that the bill spends too much to achieve too little and that Democrats pushed the bill through without giving Senators adequate time to review it.
• Even some Democrats have been quoted as saying they wish the bill was different, reflecting liberals' unhappiness over some compromises with conservatives in the party.

Here are some quick points to note:

• Health insurance coverage would be extended to over 30 million Americans while reducing the federal deficit by $132 billion over the next decade.
• There would be NO public option.
• Insurance for a family of four making up to roughly $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level would be subsidized.
• They have also agreed to create health insurance exchanges designed to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less expensive coverage.
• Insurers would also be barred from charging higher premiums based on a person's gender or medical history.
• Medicaid would be significantly expanded under both proposals. The House bill would extend coverage to individuals earning up to 150 percent of the poverty line, or roughly $33,000 for a family of four; the Senate plan ensures coverage to those earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four.
• Individuals under both the House and Senate plans, which still need to be merged for final vote, would be required to purchase coverage, but the House bill includes more stringent penalties for most of those who fail to comply. The House bill would impose a fine of up to 2.5 percent of an individual's income. The Senate plan would require individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or face a fine of up to $750 or 2 percent of his or her income -- whichever is greater.

“Senate Sends Obama Defense Bill That Extends Jobless Benefits and COBRA Subsidies”

• The FY 2010 defense appropriations bill passed the Senate on Saturday by a vote of 88-10.
• The House passed the bill earlier in the week, so it is now on its way to the White House to be signed into law.
• Though it mostly provides funding for defense projects, the bill also includes money for a two-month extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA medical insurance subsidies.
• The bill extends these programs through February because Congress did not have time to tackle them separately before its holiday recess.
• The expanded unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies that are being extended were part of this year's economic stimulus package.
• Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-defense-bill20-2009dec20,0,5169374.stor