Wednesday, August 7, 2013

CONGRESS AND OBAMACARE

Submitted by: Debbie Beatty

Debbie sent a letter to Rep Joe Heck protesting Congress being exempted from being subjected to Obamacare. This is his reply:
August 7, 2013




Dear Ms. Beatty,

Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding federal employees and Members of Congress purchasing health insurance plans through health insurance exchanges.

I understand and share your strong concerns with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; P.L. 111-148), and please know that I will continue working to eliminate the burdensome requirements of this law and restore the federal government to its proper place in our health care system. PPACA requires all citizens to obtain health insurance, whether through their employer or as an individual. To assist individuals in purchasing a policy, the health exchanges will offer choices of private insurance. The exchanges were not meant to take the place of employer-provided coverage. Please let me assure you – Members of Congress and their staff are not exempt from the health care law, nor should they be. Congress must abide by the laws it enacts.

Currently, Members of Congress and congressional staff may choose to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Plan, which offers federal employees the option of purchasing health insurance coverage. FEHB operates similarly to employer-sponsored plans enjoyed by millions of private sector employees, and both Members of Congress and congressional staff alike pay a monthly premium for their coverage. 

While PPACA allows other federal employees to continue their coverage through FEHB, new provisions enacted by PPACA will force Members and staff off of their existing plans into plans purchased through a health insurance exchange, thus taking the place of the employer-provided insurance. As a result of this change, it was uncertain whether or not the federal government could legally continue to contribute to employee premiums for plans purchased through an exchange, rather than through FEHB. On August 2, 2013, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a ruling which states that the federal government can continue making a contribution to the health care premiums. OPM's decision is a clarification – it is not a change in policy, nor is it an exemption from the health care law. Just like all Americans, Members of Congress and their staff are subject to all of the law's requirements, including the mandate to purchase health coverage.

I understand the negative perception surrounding the recent OPM ruling, and I share your frustrations and concerns with the health care law. Though I was not a representative when the law passed during the 111th Congress, one of the primary reasons I ran to represent Nevada's Third District was to repeal and replace this law with true, patient-centered health reform for those without access to care. I strongly agree that this law - the largest governmental intrusion into our health care system in history – is seriously flawed and will have negative consequences for individuals, families, and businesses alike. PPACA must be addressed by instituting patient-centered reforms instead that protect the critical relationship between patients and their doctors, allowing patients to make decisions that best fit their needs. Please be assured that, as a member of the House Doctors Caucus, I will continue working in the 113th Congress to address the flawed health care law and fix the shortcomings of our nation's health care system.

Again, I appreciate your thoughts and concerns and it is an honor to serve you in Congress. Your suggestions are always welcome, and if ever I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. 



          Sincerely,

          DR. JOE HECK
          Member of Congress
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