Democratic Health Plan Passed Along Party Lines

senate, health, bill, Obama, Obamacare, insurance, harry Reid, McConnell, Republican, Democrat

Here is a rundown of the bill that was just passed by the Democratic majority.

-The bill requires that people get health insurance or get will get penalized $95 in 2014 and $750 in 2016 unless their health insurance is covered by their workplace.

-Insurance companies cannot reject applicants if they have pre-existing conditions. In the Senate bill, this would take effect in 2014.

-Companies with over 50 workers will be fined if an employee’s medical coverage is paid for by a government progam. However, companies aren’t mandated to provide insurance for workers.

-The Senate version of the bill does not offer a government-run public option for health coverage.

-Extends health coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans.

Chicago Tribune says:

Senate passage of its sweeping healthcare legislation Thursday opened the final chapter of Democrats‘ drive to enact the biggest social policy change in decades, launching a high-stakes effort to reconcile the substantial disparities between House and Senate versions of the bill.

But their hardened differences � on abortion, taxes, and the government’s role in the insurance market � may weaken under political pressure to act quickly on President Obama‘s goal of overhauling a medical system that provides world-class healthcare for many but is marked by huge gaps in insurance coverage, uneven quality and skyrocketing costs.

The 60-39 vote on strict party lines came in an unusualChristmas eve session, with exhausted Senators gathering at 7 a.m. EST. It was the 25th day of debate and Vice PresidentJoe Biden made a rare appearance to oversee the roll call.

The Baltimore Sun:

The Senate version requires that consumers who receive subsidies to purchase policies through the new insurance exchanges to essentially write two checks–so that money for abortion coverage is segregated from federal funds.

Many people, from Democrats to Republicans have decried the bill as being too expensive, too expansive of the federal government’s power, possibly unconstitutional, and no public option.

The Huffington Post says:

Unacceptable” is a pretty concrete word. When applied to legislation as it is in this letter, it means, um, “not acceptable,” which means not supportable, which means a “no” vote. Sure, lawmakers often vote “yes” on things they deem “not perfect,” “only mediocre” or even “somewhat unacceptable” – but they don’t vote for things they unequivocally call “unacceptable.” To do that is to “flip-flop, “contradict oneself” and/or “lie” – take your pick.

BBC says: 

 

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that efficiency savings made as a result of the Senate healthcare reform bill will cut the federal deficit by $132bn (£83bn) over 10 years, but critics say the predicted savings may never materialise.

As a nation, the US spent some $2.2tn (£1.36tn) on healthcare in 2007. That amounts to 16.2% of GDP, nearly twice the average of other rich, industrialised countries, said Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The bill could possibly be merged with the House bill, which includes the public option. This could allow illegal immigrants to tap into federal funds, says Fox: 

“The Senate bill reinforces what Latino voters and families already believe– that their voices are not being heard and their concerns are not being seriously considered by lawmakers. Worse yet, the bill includes a senseless prohibition to the new insurance marketplace which will erect roadblocks to health care for many Americans,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR president and CEO.