Congress' Health Coverage A Part Of A Reform Measure

NU Online News Service, Oct.1, 3:55 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON–Proposed bill language would require members of Congress and congressional staff to get their health insurance through health exchange providers that would be authorized by legislation being considered by a Senate panel.

The provision concerning coverage was contained in an amendment passed by the Finance Committee Wednesday.

Approval of the amendment was by unanimous consent at the request of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking minority member of the committee. "The more that Congress experiences the laws we pass, the better the laws are likely to be," Mr. Grassley said.

Sen. Grassley said his motive for the amendment is that, currently, members of Congress and their staffs participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The exchange that would be established by the pending legislation is modeled after this federal employees' program and designed to give participants the same kind of choices and options for health care coverage as federal employees. It would allow individuals who don't receive insurance from employers to purchase policies at group rates.

"My interest in having Members of Congress participate in the exchange is consistent with my long-held view that Congress should live under the same laws it passes for the rest of the country," Sen. Grassley said.