House passes health care bill

Democrats have sought for decades to provide universal health care, but not since the 1965 passage of Medicare and Medicaid has a chamber of Congress approved such a vast expansion of coverage. Action now shifts to the Senate, which could spend the rest of the year debating its version of the health-care overhaul. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., hopes to bring a measure to the floor before Thanksgiving, but legislation may not reach Obama's desk before the new year.

The debate on the House floor extended for about 12 hours and settled into a civil, if predictable, pattern, after a heated start.

Republicans had blasted the 1,990-page bill as an ominous blueprint for a budget-busting government takeover of the private health-care system that would impose unprecedented mandates on individuals and employers, raise an array of taxes and slash projected spending on Medicare, the federal health program for the elderly. At a time of record budget deficits, Republicans argued that the country could ill-afford a new entitlement program that would cost an estimated $1.05 trillion over the next decade.

Pelosi focused on corralling at least 218 of 258 Democrats to push the bill across the finish line. That task appeared to grow easier after party leaders broke a weeks-long impasse over abortion by agreeing to hold a vote on an amendment - offered by antiabortion Democrats - that would explicitly bar the public plan from covering the procedure. The amendment, approved 240 to 194, with 64 Democrats in favor, also would prohibit people who received insurance subsidies from purchasing private plans that covered abortion.

The deal cleared the way for dozens of antiabortion Democrats to back the package. The most passionate advocates of abortion rights were not happy, but few were prepared to vote down legislation that promises to achieve so many long-held party goals.

The complex package would affect virtually every American and fundamentally alter vast swaths of the health insurance industry. Starting next year, private insurers could no longer deny anyone coverage based on pre-existing conditions, place lifetime limits on coverage or abandon people when they become ill. Insurers would be required to disclose and justify proposed premium increases to regulators, and could not remove adult children younger than 27 from their parents' family policies.

For the elderly, the group that has been most skeptical of Obama's initiative, the House package would immediately offer discounts on prescription drugs and reduce a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage, closing it entirely by 2019. Uninsured people who cannot get coverage could join temporary high-risk insurance pools, and unemployed workers would be permitted to keep their COBRA benefits until the public plan and insurance exchanges started in 2013.

In four years, the measure would establish a new insurance system. Businesses with payrolls exceeding $500,000 would be required to offer their workers insurance or pay a fine of as much as 8 percent of payroll. Individuals would be required to obtain insurance or pay a fine of as much as 2.5 percent of income. States would be required to extend Medicaid coverage to as many as 15 million additional people. Low- and middle-income individuals who still could not afford coverage could apply for federal subsidies through an insurance marketplace that would negotiate with private insurers to provide comprehensive policies alongside a government-run "public option."

This is NOT change we can believe in!!!!!!

The Democrats present a plan with problems, but a lurching step forward. The Republican's plan does noting for the uninsured, and keeps the status quo intact. I vote for candidates of both parties, but the Republican's steadfast refusal to do anything meaningful for the uninsured keeps me voting democrat, at least on the national level. As a sidebar, John McCain had my vote until he chose Palin and her uninformed, uneducated opinions and ideas. I wonder how many people ditched McCain because of her?

I agree with Orange Crush. At least the Democrats are making an attempt, something Republicans never did. I am disappointed that there is no public option. Do you think the Swiss, the Swedes, the Danes and the Germans, all of whom have a single payor government option, are all crying and whining?
The Congress, the Senate, and their government employees ejoy some of thge best publically funded healthcare in the world, completely free to people with salaries of over 6 figures and net worths of 7 an 8 figures. Yet, they tell us WE can't have it. This government will have more than enough money to provide ALL citizens with the type of healthcare if it stops squandering funds in these quagmire wars. If you still support those wars, you do not support the American people's healthcare.

You and Orangecrush are both wrong. The Reps have a great plan with real changes that will not only get more people insured than the Obama plan, but will lower the deficit and prevent taxes from being raised. The Dems plan will raise taxes, raise insurance cost, have access to your personal banking information, interfere with consumers and their physicians, put caps on medical care, insure millions of illegal aliens (even though they say it won't)and fund abortions (which they also say won't happpen but we all know will and will make people who are morally against abortion unwilling participants in the slaughter of the unborn). Before you willing hand over 1/3 of our economy to the communists in charge (which is what they are really after - control and nationalizing everything in sight) compare the differences between what the Dems want to do and what the GOP wants to do. And unlike the Dem's 2,000 page monstrosity whose sole purpose it to confuse the GOP has ten ways to lower cost and get more people insured than the Dem plan. The diffence is stark and only an idiot wouldn't be able to comprehend it especially since the 10 reasons are compared to the Dem plan. And the icing on the cake is the GOP plan is approved by the CBO, unlike the Dem plan which has the potential to permanently cripple our economy.

Ten reasons to support the Alternative GOP Health Care Plan

Taking the First Step. Republicans listened to the American people and have produced a common sense, fiscally responsible health reform proposal—not Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2,000+ page government takeover of 1/6th of our nation’s economy. Republicans have a better plan, one that lowers premiums for working families and small businesses, fights fraud, and will lead to expanded access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans without raising taxes, cutting benefits to seniors or spending money we don’t have.
1.Lowers Health Care Premiums.
According to CBO, the Republican Alternative would reduce health insurance premiums by up to:
• 10% for employees who get coverage through a small business (50 or fewer employees)
• 8% for those who do not have access to employer-provided coverage
• 3% for employees who get coverage through a large business
All told, under the GOP plan, premiums for millions of families would be nearly $5,000 lower than Speaker Pelosi’s cheapest insurance plan, according to CBO estimates.
2. Guarantees Affordable Coverage for Patients with Preexisting Conditions.
The Republican Alternative makes it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition. So if you lose your health insurance because you lose your job, move, get divorced, or just want to change plans, you are protected. Through a new Universal Access Program, all patients with preexisting conditions will have access to affordable health care coverage--without waiting lists. The Republican Alternative also prohibits an insurer from cancelling a policy unless an individually knowingly commits fraud on an application form. It also prohibits insurance plans from instituting annual or lifetime spending limits.
3. Protects Seniors Medicare Benefits.
Unlike the Pelosi bill, seniors’ benefits are not cut and nothing in the Republican Alternative will increase seniors’ Medicare premiums.
4. No Tax Increases. Period.
5. Encourages Small Businesses to Offer Health Care Coverage,
Without Taxing Job Creation.
Unlike the Pelosi bill, which punishes small businesses with onerous mandates and exorbitant taxes that CBO says will be passed on the employees in the form of lower wages, the Republican Alternative plan gives small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as corporations and labor unions do.
6. Enacts Real Medical Liability Reform.
The Republican Alternative saves $54 billion by helping to end costly junk lawsuits and curbing defensive medicine by enacting medical liability reforms modeled after the successful state laws of California and Texas.
7.Empowers the Doctor- Patient Relationship.
The Republican Alternative eliminates taxpayer funding of a program that could lead to government intrusion in the doctor-patient relationship and the rationing of care on the basis of cost. Unlike the Pelosi bill that increases taxes and expands price controls on medical devices and prescription drugs, the Republican Alternative promotes innovation and places greater emphasis on prevention and wellness.
8. Prohibits Abortion Funding.
The Republican Alternative explicitly prohibits all federal funds from being used to pay for abortion.
9. No Entitlement Expansions Forcing Americans onto a Government Run Plan.
The Republican Alternative avoids a dramatic expansion in entitlement spending and reverses pressure to enact enormous additional tax increases in the future, including on the middle class.
10. Reduces the Deficit.
According to CBO, the Republican Alternative reduces the deficit by $68 billion over the next ten years and continues to reduce the deficit in the second budget window.