Oops: Congress Might Have Killed Its Own Health Care

Health bill error may leave lawmakers, aides without coverage
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2010 7:26 AM CDT
Oops: Congress Might Have Killed Its Own Health Care
An error in the health care reform bill may leave the people who wrote it without coverage.   (Shutter Stock)

If you know exactly how the health care reform bill will impact your coverage, you may be a step ahead of your member of Congress, according to the New York Times. A report from the Congressional Research Service found that—because of imprecise language and a possible drafting error in the bill—senators, representatives, and their staffers may end up having their coverage pulled with no ready replacement.

A provision in the bill added by GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley bars members of Congress and congressional staff from taking part in the current federal health employee plan, but it appears to take effect years before the health insurance exchanges they are supposed to switch to come into being. The effect of the health bill on the people who wrote it, the congressional report concludes, remains unclear and a legislative fix may be required.
(More health care reform stories.)

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