Jul 23, 2009 6:43 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Health Care For Members Of Congress
(WCCO)
Right now, 50 million Americans are uninsured, or do not have enough insurance. However, members of Congress and their families receive some of the best health care benefits in the country. Americans want to know how good this insurance is.
The president and members of Congress are among 8 million federal employees who get health insurance through the government.
It's the
largest employer sponsored health plan in the country and they can choose from dozens of plans, just like many Americans.
However, that's where the similarities end. President Obama says Congress, which has good health benefits, should care more about Americans who don't.
"I have great health insurance," said the president at a nationally televised press conference Wednesday. "So does every member of congress."
It's TRUE. For an average monthly premium of about $308, members of Congress get a
pretty good bang for the buck.
Unlike much of America, members of Congress are covered the moment they are sworn in. Also, they have no waiting periods and bans on pre-existing medical conditions. They also are covered for things many Americans are not like mental health, substance abuse and prescription drugs.
But that's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
Lawmakers get some perks beyond regular insurance coverage, too. For an annual fee of about $500, they are entitled to health services at a fully staffed clinic on-site at the Capitol and they can check in for medical care at military hospitals, too.
"I don't think that they should have better coverage than the average American," said Alissa Condra of Minneapolis, who says she's worried about insurance.
Shane Zako, of Cottage Grove, Minn., said he's lucky to have insurance through his employer, but he says he knows family members without coverage.
"I think we should be all equal footing," Zako said. "Everybody should have the same type of insurance."
The rest of America can't get that kind of coverage because taxpayers can't afford it. A Brookings Institution analyst estimates it would cost about $2 trillion.
Meanwhile, the president's health care reform bill would give consumers some, but not all, of the same benefits as members of Congress and their families get.
Congressional leaders said on Thursday that they don't expect any vote soon.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
