HUDSON COUNTY — Rep. Albio Sires joined his colleagues in passing HR 3520 health care reform today. The bill passed by a vote of 219 to 212. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that this legislation will expand health care coverage to 95 percent of all Americans, including an additional 32 million people, while reducing the deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years, according to Sires’ office.
“With the needs of the 13th District in mind, I cast my vote in support of health care reform today,” said Congressman Sires, who hails from West New York. “This bill would expand health care coverage to the 23 percent of individuals currently residing in my district without health insurance and improve the health coverage of the 326,000 residents currently covered, as well as protect 900 families in the 13th District from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care”
Sires said in a press release that the bill will immediately begin to hold insurance companies accountable by prohibiting them from dropping coverage when a person gets sick and ban the companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, beginning this year, young adults will be able to remain on their parents’ health policies until they turn 26 and Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition will be able to buy affordable coverage through a temporary high-risk pool.
In the coming months, seniors will also see relief from high prescription prices with a $250 rebate for Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole and preventative services and immunizations will be free under Medicare right away, Sires said.
Furthermore small businesses that provide coverage to their employees will to be eligible for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of premiums.
In the subsequent years further requirements will be placed on insurers to prohibit them from denying or canceling coverage for any American based on their health status and bans will be placed on annual and life-time limits. Additionally, federal subsidies will be provided to low and middle class families to assist in purchasing health care; the Medicare Part D donut hole will be phased out over time; and a system of state-run health insurance exchanges will be created where individuals and small businesses can shop and compare prices and benefits of a variety of health care plans.
Finally, along with various investments in prevention, wellness, and the health care workforce, the solvency of Medicare will be extended by at least nine years, which will assist in improving the program for the more than 72,000 beneficiaries in the 13th District alone.