Senate Leader Aims for Universal Health Coverage Within 10 Years

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday will release a detailed universal health coverage plan that is "broadly compatible" with the proposal by President-elect Barack Obama, the New York Times reports.

The plan includes provisions to:

• Require employers of a certain size to offer health insurance for workers or pay into a federal insurance fund;
• Provide tax credits for small businesses that provide health coverage and individuals and families who purchase insurance on the private market;
• Establish a national health insurance exchange, similar to one proposed by Obama, to allow consumers to compare and purchase policies from a menu of private plans, as well as a new public plan similar to Medicare;
• Prohibit insurers from denying coverage or charging different premiums based pre-existing health conditions;
• Permit people ages 55 to 64 who do not have access to public or group coverage to buy into Medicare;
• Make Medicaid available to everyone with incomes below the federal poverty level; and
• Expand eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program to all uninsured children in families with incomes up to 250% of the poverty level.

The plan eventually would require all U.S. residents to obtain health coverage and would provide subsidies for those who could not otherwise afford it (Pear, New York Times, 11/12).

The 104-page plan, titled "Call to Action, Health Reform 2009," would aim to have every U.S. resident covered within 10 years (Connolly, Washington Post, 11/12).

Baucus plans to hold meetings next week with leaders of both parties in the Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 11/12).

Report, Baucus Statements

According to the report, "We all must realize that the costs of inaction, both in human and financial terms, will eventually be far greater than any initial outlays" (Freking, AP/Miami Herald, 11/12).

Baucus suggested that the plan could be funded by reducing waste and fraud, emphasizing prevention and utilizing comparative-effectiveness research. In the short term, he said cutting payments to private insurers participating in the Medicare Advantage program also would provide some funding.

Implications

The Post reports that the "most controversial idea is Baucus's suggestion to revisit the current tax treatment of employer-sponsored health insurance" (Washington Post, 11/12).

The plan does not specify how large or small a company would have to be to fall under the rules, nor does it include a total cost estimate (Wall Street Journal, 11/12). For those who do not obtain coverage, a penalty "would be enforced, possibly through the tax system," the plan states (New York Times, 11/12).

In the plan, Baucus wrote, "I believe -- very strongly -- that every American has a right to high-quality health care ... and I believe Americans cannot wait any longer" (Wall Street Journal, 11/12).

Reaction

The Times reports that Obama aides "welcomed the Congressional efforts, had encouraged Congress to take the lead and still considered health care a top priority, despite the urgent need to address huge problems afflicting the economy" (New York Times, 11/12).

Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said, "We're at one of those rare moments that comes every 15 years when you have a chance" to make comprehensive health care changes, adding, "But a lot of things have to break right for it to happen" (Washington Post, 11/12).

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said, "The prospects for meaningful health care reform have never looked better" (New York Times, 11/12).

Other Efforts

The Post notes that Sen. Edwards Kennedy (D-Mass.) also is working on a health proposal and intends to have legislation drafted by Inauguration Day.

A bill sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Robert Bennett (R-Utah.) has support from eight Democratic and nine Republican members.

Wyden said, "This shows it is possible to move in a bipartisan way" (Washington Post, 11/12).