Congress Passes Historic Healthcare Bill

Affordable Healthcare Act, Healthcare Reform, Deficit, and the GDP

Nov 9, 2009

Congress takes a historic step forward to pass national healthcare coverage for all Americans, but GOP says wrong move!

In an open session Saturday, the U.S. Congress voted 220-215 in favor of reforming America’s healthcare system; a measure that would extend affordable healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured American families, but places tougher restrictions on employers and insurance companies.

The $1.2 trillion dollar healthcare bill marks a historic victory for Congress, as a measure of its magnitude has not been passed since Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law, the Social Security Act of 1965. On November 7, 2009, Congress passed the Affordable Healthcare for America Act (H.R. 3962), which guarantees healthcare coverage to 96 percent of the American population, explained Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). The measure passed Congress, with 39 Democrats voting against the Bill , and with one Republican in favor of it: Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (La.).

The Affordable Healthcare Act Benefits and Savings

"The Affordable Healthcare Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don't; and bring down the cost of healthcare for families, busineses, and the government while strenthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid and will reduce our long-term healthcare budget," explained President Obama in his weekly White House address, Sept. 9, 2009. The new healthcare measure is expected to save tax payers over $175 billion over the next 10 years, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget notes in the president's fiscal 2010 budget report.

The Affordable Healthcare Act Restrictions and CoverageUnder the 1,990-page healthcare reform bill, elective abortions are not covered under the plan and illegal immigrants are not allowed to partake in the "public option" portion of the bill; public option is the the portion of the bill that requires all Americans to carry some type of healthcare insurance or face penalties, explained President Obama in his White House address. Further, President Obama explained that the revised healthcare bill would restrict insurance companies from increasing premium charges based on gender and also, prevent them from dropping coverage while a person is sick. But, equally as important, President Obama explained that the revised healthcare measure would allow a cap to be placed on out-of pocket expenses, as well as eliminate the "donut-hole" gap in coverage for prescription drugs.

"The act would create an individual mandate for health insurance, provide a public health option in the form of a Health Insurance Exchange, and place new requirements on many employers to provide coverage," explained Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) in an official OpenCongress Summary, July 14, 2009. "This bill it seeks to expand health care coverage to the approximately 40 million Americans who are currently uninsured by lowering the cost of health care and making the system more efficient. To that end, it includes a new government-run insurance plan (a.k.a. a public option) to compete with the private companies, a requirement that all Americans have health insurance, a prohibition on denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and, to pay for it all, a surtax on households with an income above $350,000."

Although Democrats remain optimistic about the new measure becoming law, there still remains much skepticism from their Republican counterparts, who believes the proposed healthcare project is too costly and thereby argues, the project is the first step towards a government takeover.

"It will raise insurance premiums for Americans," explained House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), in a Capitol Hill press conference Saturday. "We're going to do everything we can to try to stop this from becoming law and urge the Speaker to work with us in a bipartisan way to enact common sense, step-by-step reform to make health insurance more affordable for more Americans."

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, also the Chairman of the House Republican Conference shared his views about the new measure earlier this year, arguing that the current Administration seeks to takeover the healthcare industry through its untimely healthcare initiative.

The Affordable Healthcare Act Trouble Passing the Senate

"In the midst of the worst recession in 25 years, after months of runaway federal spending, bailouts, record deficits and a national energy tax, now comes a government takeover of healthcare paid for with nearly $1 trillion in tax increases, explained Rep. Pence (R-IN), during a House session July 21, 2009. "Before we move on to the next big government scheme of this Administration, the American people are asking, ‘Mr. President, where are the jobs?'--"The American people know we can do better. We must do better. For the sake of our economy and reform, I implore my Democratic colleagues, say ‘no' to a government takeover of health care and higher taxes and say ‘yes' to a bipartisan majority in this Congress that is committed to fiscal discipline, reform and putting Americans back to work."

The healthcare reform initiative proposed by the 111th Congress received major support from AARP and the Medical Association last Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, after protestors assembled on Capitol Hill to refute the Administration's plan to overhaul the national healthcare system. However, despite their efforts to "kill the bill," the measure now moves to the U.S. Senate for its approval, explained President Obama from the Rose Garden Sunday. If the measure passes the Senate, the bill is expected to be signed into law by January 2010, and the "public option" made available by 2013.

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