Comments on: The Senate Bill: Getting Into The Details

By: Orlando Best

Orlando Best — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:19:55 +0000

Tim,
I read your blog on the reconciliation bill but it doesn’t seem that amendments were made to the high risk pool or , preexisting condition exclusions for adults, do you agree? I was hoping that the house would’ve put back some of these things that they had in their original bill. Doesn’t seem like this reconciliation bill will do anything for me.
Orlando

By: Timothy Jost

Timothy Jost — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:31:01 +0000

The conference committee bill will have to be approved by both houses and can be filibustered, which means a cloture vote will probably be needed.

By: Orlando

Orlando — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:07:27 +0000

Tim,
Thanks for clarification and good job with this post.

One final question; does the merged bill, i.e., the conference report, has to go back to both the senate and house to be debated and voted on? If yes, is a kloture vote 60/40 required to end this debate also?

By the way, good job with this post. I have been forwarding it to my friends who also find it very valuable. Clearly we find it diificult to read 2000 pages of legalese stuff. Appreciate your work.

Orlando

By: Timothy Jost

Timothy Jost — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:50:35 +0000

Orlando,
The House bill (section 113) would extend COBRA coverage until the effective date of the Act or until other acceptable coverage became available. This provision is not in the Senate bill. Both the Senate and House bill provide for a high risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions, but under the Senate bill an individual would have to be uninsured for 6 months before eligibility. As noted in my posts, one of the biggest problems with both bills is that they give little immediate help to many Americans with immediate health care needs.

By: Orlando

Orlando — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:37:58 +0000

Can I benefit immedately from this bill? I’m a 53 year old male, self employed, but currently on Cobra from my wife’s last job and paying a manageable premium of $350. My wife lost her job in August 2008. Cobra will expire in Jan 31 2009. I have a preexisting condition and receive treatments (blood infusion therapy) monthly at a clinic. Prior to insurance from my wife’s very short lived job, I had an individual policy with Cigna for about 15 months that was costing me $2000 per month which I can no longer afford. My health condition is chronic in that if i don’t get these treatments the muscles in my hands and feet will deteoriate.
I had read that if you are on Cobra prior to the passing of the health bill, the employer/insurer cannot drop you.
Also I read about these high risk pool policies that will be in place for people like me. Can someone confirm or add clarity to this for me?
Thanks.
Orlando