Senate Approves Sweeping Health Care Reform Bill

Both bills would create insurance exchanges—a one-stop marketplace for health insurance for those not covered by employer insurance. Those who cannot afford to buy health insurance on their own or do not qualify for the expanded Medicaid coverage would be eligible for government subsidies to help them purchase insurance through the exchanges. Both bills offer subsidies for families with annual income of up to $88,200 in 2009 for a family of four.

If individuals don’t get insurance, the Senate bill would force them to pay a penalty as would the House bill.

Whether the different provisions in the bills can be reconciled remains to be seen. Controversy over the public plan alone could prove fatal for health care reform. Some supporters in the House have said they would not vote for a bill without it. Senate opponents say they would not support health care reform that included a public option. And because both bills passed with few or no votes to spare, some Washington observers warn that there may not be much room for compromise.

Susan Jaffe writes about health policy issues.

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