Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:11:5
Linda Young - AHN Editor
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Saturday night lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill by a close vote of 220 to 215, a move President Barack Obama lauded. The ball is now in the Senate's court to pass its own legislation. If it does, then the stage is set for the largest expansion of health care since the creation of Medicare 40 years ago.
An estimated 30 million more people would obtain health coverage over the next decade if the bill becomes law. But estimates of what the bill would cost vary, with most Republicans claiming a higher price tag. So it ended up being a partisan bill, with only one Republican crossing party lines to vote for it. First term Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) voted for the bill, while 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats voted against it. Among other things, the bill would ban insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a preexisting condition, or charging women a higher premium than men.
Calling it an "historic vote," Obama late Saturday night issued the following comment on House Passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962:
Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don't; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.
Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.
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