Can members of Congress keep the health plan they like?
April 16th, 2010 | by Brian Schwartz |“If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” – Barack Obama, August 8, 2009
The New York Times reports:
n a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the “personal health insurance coverage” of senators, representatives and their staff members.
For example, it says, the law may “remove members of Congress and Congressional staff” from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available. …
In its painstaking analysis of the new law, the research service says the impact on Congress itself and the intent of Congress are difficult to ascertain.
The law apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.
But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect.
Paul Hsieh reminds us that prior to the passage of ObamaCare, House Speaker Pelosi famously declared, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it”. At Reason.com, Peter Suderman notes that “Just because we passed the bill doesn’t mean we’re going to find out what’s in it.”
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tags: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, ObamaCare fallout
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