CQ Health Beat
October 2, 2009
October 2, 2009 — Thursday’s efforts by the Senate Finance Committee to prepare health overhaul legislation for Senate floor action gave Democrats breathing room politically by weakening penalties for failing to buy health insurance, but fewer uninsured Americans are expected to gain coverage as a result.
In addition, insurers complain that fewer young people with low health costs can be expected to sign up for benefits, raising premium costs for those who do obtain coverage through new health insurance exchanges that would be created by the legislation.
And a new Medicare commission created to streamline the program turns out to exempt much of the health care industry from any cuts it recommends in the next decade.
Republicans add that the commission’s recommendations will lead to seniors paying higher premiums for their Medicare prescription drug benefits.