US Senate Approves Health Reform Bill

December 29, 2009

Washington– The US Senate has passed the landmark healthcare bill on Christmas Eve that would provide coverage to more than 30 million people and would paved the way for the overhaul of Medicare and the private insurance market.

Under the approved bill, most Americans will be required to obtain health insurance, either through their employers or via new, government-regulated exchanges. In addition, those who cannot afford insurance plans will receive federal subsidies. The law would also expand the Medicaid services to millions of low-income children and adults.

The bill was passed over a 60-39 party-line vote, and was presided over by Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats see the passing of the bill as realization of their 70-year old goal toward attaining universal health coverage.

Political observers however believed that more difficult issues are still to be resolved when the bill reaches final negotiations with the House, which could stretch from January to February.

Moreover, Democrats are confident that President Barack Obama will sign into law in early 2010 new measures that would “prevent insurers from refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, limit the amount individuals have to pay for their own care”, and require other reforms that the President has called "the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable."