Since January of this year proposals have been put forward by Republican leadership with this happening everytime; Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
Obama says he will listen, Really? Hell, people are screaming with proposals, turn your hearing aid up man!!!!
H.R. 77 - The Health Care Incentive Act
(Issa, R-CA)
Introduced: January 6, 2009
Summary: The Health Care Incentive Act allows for an employer, who is required by state law to pay an employee at a rate higher than the federally mandated minimum wage, to offer their employees health care benefits and get a credit toward the minimum wage for doing so.
This legislation instructs the Department of Labor to promulgate a rule to allow employers who participate in interstate commerce and whose state has a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage to include the value of health care benefits provided to an employee in determining the wage such employer is required to pay.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 109 - America's Affordable Health Care Act of 2009
(Fortenberry, R-NE)
Introduced: January 6, 2009
Summary: America's Affordable Health Care Act seeks to promote more affordable insurance options for individuals who do not receive health coverage through their employer, and also for those with complex or chronic health conditions. It permits insurance companies to offer policies with fewer mandated benefits, called "health benefit plans." It would allow individuals and families who do not receive health insurance coverage through their employer or from the government to have the option of purchasing one of these lower cost health benefit plans. These plans would be required to cover, at minimum, inpatient hospital services and physicians' surgical and medical services.
More specifically, it authorizes a health insurance issuer to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify health insurance policies offered in the individual market as Health Benefit Plans. It will allow these certified plans to be offered to individuals in all states without regard to state and local mandated benefit laws. This legislation recognizes that for every mandated benefit, a certain segment of the population is priced out of the market and cannot afford health care coverage. Mandates may benefit the employer market, but can price individuals out of the individual market.
This legislation enhances coverage opportunities for those with complex or chronic conditions, by providing more funding to states for high-risk pools. High-risk pools offer insurance coverage options to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions who are otherwise unable to obtain insurance in the individual market. Specifically, it amends the Public Health Service Act to increase the authorization of appropriations for FY2010-FY2014 for grants to states for the creation and operation of qualified high risk health insurance pools. It also authorizes funds to encourage state to adopt best practice protocols regarding the operation of high risk pools.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 198 - Health Care Tax Deduction Act of 2009
(Stearns, R-FL)
Introduced: January 6, 2009
Summary: The Health Care Tax Deduction Act will allow individuals to take a tax deduction from gross income for health insurance premiums and unreimbursed prescription drug expenses paid for by the taxpayer. This deduction covers health insurance premiums for the taxpayer, the taxpayers spouse, and dependents.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 270 - TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard
and Reserve Families Act of 2009 (Latta, R-OH)
Introduced: January 7, 2009
Summary: This legislation allows retired members of the National Guard and Federal Reserve Components with 20 or more years of faithful and honorable service to purchase healthcare that was available to them during their time in active service or after they reach 60 years of age. Currently, members who have retired but are not yet 60 years of age are not eligible for TRICARE health insurance, and are referred to as being in the "gray area." Right now there are approximately 220,000 retirees that fall within the "gray area," with an additional 12,100 service members retiring and entering this status each year. CBO has not scored the legislation, however since this would allow "Gray Area" reservists to purchase TRICARE Standard health coverage at 100% of the premium, the sponsor office notes that the costs would be fully offset.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 321 - SCHIP Plus Act of 2009 (Fortenberry, R-NE)
Introduced: January 8, 2009
Summary: The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Plus Act would offer eligible families the choice of retaining coverage for their children in SCHIP or, alternatively, using SCHIP funds to help pay for insurance coverage for their children purchased from the private individual market. This latter option also permits families to use the funds toward the overall cost of a family insurance plan, so that children and parents are covered under one plan, rather than having children receive coverage under SCHIP while parents receive coverage under another insurance plan. This option is only for "targeted low-income children" or those SCHIP-eligible children of families at 200% of the federal poverty level or lower. Enrollment will be voluntary and offered as a coverage option along with traditional SCHIP coverage. Those electing such coverage shall be provided one opportunity per year to switch coverage from SCHIP to a private individual-style or family-style plan.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 464 - More Children, More Choices Act of 2009
(Price, R-GA)
Introduced: January 13, 2009
Summary: The More Children, More Choices Act reauthorizes the SCHIP program, provides a tax credit for families with children that are between 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and adopts a "federalism" healthcare initiative.
SCHIP will be reauthorized at $7 billion per year, increasing to $8 billion in 2014. This legislation will also provide $100 million per year for the outreach and enrollment of eligible, uninsured children. The limit for the SCHIP program will be set at 200% of the FPL, and states will be required to cover 90% of the eligible children before expanding programs further. This legislation will grandfather in all existing children and individuals, until their current waivers expire.
A tax credit of $1,400 will be provided for all children (insured or uninsured) in families that are between 200% and 300% of the FPL. This credit would be advanceable and refundable.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 502 - Health Care Freedom of Choice Act
(Bachmann, R-MN)
Introduced: January 14, 2009
Summary: Under current law, medical care purchased through an employers insurance plan is tax-free, but the same premiums and expenses are not fully deductible if paid by an individual. In effect, the tax code forces working and retired Americans to seek health care through their jobs, preventing them from choosing their own plans, doctors, and treatments, and limiting their employment options due to medical considerations. Further compounding the problem, many businesses that provide health insurance offer employees the "choice" of only one plan. This legislation allows taxpayers to deduct the expenses paid during the taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, for medical care of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 504 - Medicare Hearing Enhancement and Auditory Rehabilitation (HEAR) Act of 2009 (Bilirakis, R-FL)
Introduced: January 14, 2009
Summary: The Medicare Hearing Enhancement and Auditory Rehabilitation (HEAR) Act amends Medicare to cover hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation services under the Medicare program.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 544 - Flexible Health Savings Act of 2009
(Royce, R-CA)
Introduced: January 14, 2009
Summary: The Flexible Health Savings Act allows up to $500 of unused health benefits in a plan or other arrangement to be carried forward to the next plan year or be contributed to a health savings account or a qualified retirement plan. This can be done without affecting the status of such plan or arrangement as a tax-exempt employee benefit cafeteria plan.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 643 - Care for Life Act of 2009
(Fortenberry, R-NE)
Introduced: January 22, 2009
Summary: The Care for Life Act seeks to encourage and assist women throughout their pregnancies and after childbirth by providing services to help alleviate financial, social, emotional, and other difficulties that may otherwise compel a decision for abortion.
Grants may be awarded for the exclusive purpose of providing pregnancy support services. There will be an increase in the credit for the adoption of a special needs child from $10,000 to $15,000, and this credit will be refundable.
The legislation also prohibits private health insurers from imposing any preexisting condition exclusion against an expectant mother who has had at least 12 months of creditable coverage before seeking coverage. It also prohibits private health insurers from imposing a waiting period or otherwise discriminating in coverage or premiums related to pregnancy against a woman if she has had at least 12 months of creditable coverage. This provision will be made retroactive to January 1, 2009.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 917 - To Increase the Health Benefits of Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces Who Die Because of a Combat-Related Injury.
(Guthrie, R-KY)
Introduced: February 9, 2009
Summary: This legislation amends the TRICARE program (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed care program) to require that, when a member of the Armed Forces dies on or after September 11, 2001, because of a combat-related injury incurred while on active duty for a period of more than 30 days, the members dependents receiving benefits under a contract for medical and dental care shall continue to be eligible for benefits under TRICARE Prime.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 1075 - RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for
Our Veterans for Effective Recovery) (Scalise, R-LA)
Introduced: February 13, 2009
Summary: The RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery) directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in the event of a major disaster, in an area near a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility, to contract with one or more non-VA facilities in that area to provide such services to veterans who reside within 150 miles of the VA facility that is unable to provide the services.
This requirement is inapplicable to a VA facility that is closed, or that the Secretary intends to close, as part of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) process.
This Act is applicable to any VA facility unable to provide covered services on or after August 29, 2005, by reason of a major disaster.
Status: Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority have not considered this bill in committee or on the House floor.
H.R. 1086 - Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely
Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2009
(Gingrey, R-GA)
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