Update on Progress of Health Insurance Reform

The Senate is currently debating the health care bill, which could take days or weeks as they consider amendments, culminating hopefully in a vote to cut off debate and vote on final passage of the bill.

According the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the majority of people who purchase health coverage through the new insurance exchanges created under health insurance reform legislation would pay substantially lower premiums costs. You can read the CBO's analysis here.

Additionally, a report by MIT economist Jonathan Gruber found that the Senate bill will reduce costs and improve the quality of benefits. Individuals who buy personal coverage will pay less for health insurance premiums and spend less on out-of-pocket costs.

Today, two specific items that the Senate is debating are an amendment by Sen Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) that deals with increased access to preventive services for women. The second item is a motion to recommit the bill back to committee by Sen. John McCain, that would set the process back drastically.

To view the text of the Senate's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, click here (pdf).

You may notice that the bill being debated right now in the Senate is HR 3590 which technically has to do with modifying the first-time homebuyers credit for members of the Armed Forces. This is obviously different than the HR 3962 that passed out of the House and the Senate bills from committee. The reason is that any bill that raises revenues must originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate will insert their health care bill into the homebuyers credit bill, using it as a "vehicle" to move the bill along in the process. If something happens, the original House health care bill is still in committee, and it can be used as a back up.

As usual, we'll continue to keep you informed on the progress of the bill.