Major Kerry Provisions Included in Health Care Bill

10/13/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several provisions authored by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, will be included in comprehensive healthcare legislation expected to be passed by the Committee this week.

“This marks another in a series of historic steps we’re taking to ensure that health care is a right of all our people,” said Sen. Kerry. “This process has tested the faith of the American people, but we move forward today more committed than ever to providing health insurance to all those struggling in this country.”

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The top Kerry proposals included in the Senate Finance Committee passed health care bill are:

Excise Tax Changes
The chairman’s modifications increase the threshold for the high cost insurance tax, from the consumer price index to the index plus one percent. It also increases the threshold for seniors (retirees over age 55) and those with high-risk profession (cops, firefighters, etc.) Senator Kerry is continuing to work to increase the threshold.

Lowering Health Care Costs through Reinsurance
As sponsor of the Healthy Businesses, Healthy Workers Reinsurance Act, Senator Kerry championed reinsurance as a tool to lower costs and stabilize insurance markets for individuals with catastrophic medical expenses. Sen. Kerry worked with Sen. Stabenow to modify his proposal to help early retirees. The Chairman’s Mark included two reinsurance mechanisms proposed by Sen. Kerry—one for private plans operating in the newly reformed market and another for early retirees.

Providing Tax Credits for Small Business
Last Congress, Senator Kerry sponsored the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Act to provide financial incentive and tax relief for small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees. Senator Kerry worked with the Senate Finance Committee to include a small business tax credit provision similar to this bill. The provision also allows non-profits to benefit from a tax credit which helps small businesses with the cost of offering their employees insurance.

Eliminating Discriminatory Practices Toward Women in the Individual Market
As sponsor of the Women’s Health Insurance Fairness Act of 2009, Sen. Kerry worked with Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to include provisions that would eliminate gender rating, prevent insurers from denying or limiting coverage based on health status (such as pregnancy), and require plans to cover maternity benefits.

Source: Senator John Kerry