Senators Do Not Face High Health Care Costs

Health Care Costs

The New York Timeson Sunday examined how, when senators discuss health care reform, they"usually speak in abstract terms about soaring health costs and theplight of the uninsured," problems from which "members of Congress areusually insulated." According to the Times, senators have access to a number of health insurance options through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program,and they "are not normally exposed to the fears that strike manyworkers as employers reduce health benefits and insurers increasepremiums year after year."

In response, some major Democraticpresidential candidates have said that all U.S. residents "should havecoverage as good as what Congress has," the Times reports. Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has said that she would "give all Americans the same set of insurance options that their members of Congress have," and presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has said that, under his health care proposal, all residents would have access to "health care that is as good as the health care that I have as a member of Congress." In addition, presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards(D-N.C.) has said that he would seek to end health insurance forlawmakers in the event that they do not approve legislation to expandhealth insurance to all U.S. residents within six months.

However, Congress "is far from agreement on any comprehensive proposals to help the uninsured," the Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 11/25).

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