Health Care Proposal would Extend Congress?s Plan to John Q. Public

Presidential candidates aren’t the only people in Washington putting forth proposals to overhaul the nation’s health care system. Earlier this week, Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin, a Democrat, and Republication Congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut introduced a bipartisan proposal to provide coverage for all Americans.

The American Health Benefits Program (AHBP) Act is patterned after the existing federal Employee Benefits Program, which insures more than 8 million federal employees, retirees and their dependents. The proposal extends coverage to all American’s under a share system of payment.

“My vision is that all Americans will one day have access to the same level of care as Members of Congress,” Langevin said in a statement. “The time has long passed to open a dialogue on reforming the nation’s health care system. “

Under the proposal, the federal government helps negotiate affordable and comprehensive plan packages with private insurers and would pay up to 72 percent of the total premiums, with individuals picking up the remaining tab. Low -income enrollees would be eligible for a sliding scale subsidy.

Additionally, the bill seeks to protect coverage levels for those who have insurance, offer choice of plans along with coverage portability if an individual leaves an employer or moves to another state, and reinvest 90 cents on every dollar of the insurance premium back into healthcare.

Langevin and Shays have proposed a payroll tax on employers based on their size and average employee salary to help pay for coverage if the employer does not offer a plan or opts to have his workers covered under the new system, said Joy Fox, a spokesperson for Langevin’s office.

“The cost of providing health care to employees is a growing matter of competitiveness to American employers because many of their worldwide competitors have health care systems that limit costs through a national payer system,” Shays said in a press release.

It’s the third time Langevin has introduced a health reform bill, Fox said. AHBP resembles the two previous bills, with minor changes, she said. Most notably is the addition of a health benefits commission, which if the law passes, would work for two years prior to the law taking effect to determine how best to implement the new system and insure employers offer a minimum standard of coverage.

“This has been an issue for Congressman Langevin for several years,” Fox said. “He feels strongly that the American people deserve the same level of health care coverage and access as members of Congress. He also feels strongly that this is an important issue that needs bipartisan support from the start.”