Dems want GOP to take a position on health plans
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are planning to force a vote this week on a resolution that would overturn the Trump administration’s expansion of short-term health insurance plans.
Critics call them “junk” plans, since they’re not required to comply with all the regulations of the 2010 health care law.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced a disapproval resolution in late August that would reverse the administration’s rule. And on Tuesday, the Wisconsin Democrat filed a discharge petition signed by 47 senators — exceeding the minimum of 30 needed to bypass committee action and bring the resolution to a floor vote.
“These junk insurance plans can deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and don’t have to provide essential health services like prescription drugs, emergency room visits and maternity care,” Baldwin said in a statement. “Anyone who says they support health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions should support this resolution.”
Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted Monday that Senate Democrats would try to get a floor vote Wednesday.
“On Wednesday Senate Republicans get an opportunity to demonstrate independence from Trump and vote against junk insurance plans. Tammy Baldwin’s bill will put them all on the record,” he said.
Baldwin last week announced the support of all Senate Democrats and independent Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucus with Democrats, for the resolution. It declares Congress’ disapproval of the rule and states the rule shall have no effect, and bars a similar rule in the future.
Two Republicans would need to support the resolution for it to win adoption, and it would need House approval and President Donald Trump’s signature.
If it doesn’t win Senate approval, it would still offer a chance for Democrats to force Republicans to take a position on a sensitive topic in a year in which they have sought to make health care a key campaign issue. Baldwin has spoken with Republicans Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and planned to speak with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, her office said in August when she introduced the resolution.
The rule at issue allows consumers to buy “short-term limited-duration” health plans that don’t comply with all of the requirements under the 2010 health care law. Under the rule, consumers can keep them almost 12 months and renew them for up to three years. The Obama administration shortened how long a consumer can stay in a short-term plan to just under three months in 2016.
