While Republicans are pushing for a full repeal of the federal health reform law, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, expects Congress to kill one provision.

Nine months ago, unemployed workers received a boost to continue their health care coverage through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which extended COBRA benefits. The move, meant as a temporary way to provide a 65% premium subsidy and ease the cost of health care for the unemployed, has already expired for some.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved its plan for health care reform, the last of five proposals before Congress.

Omitting a government-run health insurance program from a Senate reform bill will give private insurers “free rein” to increase premiums and “drive up the cost of federal subsidies,” according to a group of Senate Democrats.

The Senate Finance Committee has adopted an amendment from a New Jersey senator, adding a child-only health plan to a proposed health insurance exchange.

With Congress reconvening after its August break, the final Senate committee to draft health reform legislation may endorse a plan that includes a tax on private insurance companies and forgoes a government-run competitor.

Indicating that private insurers stand to gain the most from millions of customers driven to them through health care reform legislation, three Democratic senators think its time insurers help foot …  Read →

Citing the need to introduce competition in the health insurance market and contain health care costs, a group of 28 U.S. senators introduced a resolution to include a federally-backed health …  Read →