The House Rules Committee cleared the way Tuesday for another debate on poking holes in Obamacare — this time over a bill that would let insurers offer employer-based health plans that do not comply with the law’s coverage standards for several more years.
Republicans on the panel said the bill is necessary to help President Obama keep his promise that “if you like your health plan, you can keep it,” while Democrats said it will roll back Obamacare’s protections, resulting in a 7-4 vote along party lines.
Under political duress, the White House last year allowed Americans in the individual market to renew noncompliant health plans through 2016 after millions of people received cancellation notices saying their bare-bones plans were not good enough as per Affordable Care Act regulations.
The Employee Health Care Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Republican, turned the focus to employer-sponsored plans. It would let insurers offer plans they offered during 2013 — before Obamacare’s standards took effect — through the end of 2018.
Rep. Michael C. Burgess, Texas Republican, said the bill was necessary because Obamacare’s standards will stifle consumer choice.
“If your plan doesn’t comply with Washington rules, your plan goes away,” Mr. Burgess said.
Mr. Burgess noted that nearly 40 Democrats signed onto a prior House bill that would allow people in the individual market to retain their bare-bones plans.
“It is my hope that we can see even stronger bipartisan support to protect the health care plans of middle-class workers,” he said Tuesday.
Committee Democrats opposed the legislation, saying it would roll back the health care law’s protections, allowing insurers to “cherry-pick” whom they cover and to water down benefits.
“The bill would put insurance companies back in the driver’s seat,” said Rep. Gene Green, Texas Democrat.
The debate ahead of November’s midterm elections speaks to lingering political issues from Obamacare’s shaky rollout last fall.
Obamacare continues to poll poorly, with 47 percent viewing it unfavorably compared to 35 percent who see it in a positive light, according to a monthly Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released Tuesday. However, nearly two-thirds say they would like to see their member of Congress work to improve the law, while only a third wants to repeal and replace it.
Plan cancellations tied to Obamacare remain a political weapon of choice for Republicans who want to tie their Democratic rivals to Mr. Obama’s agenda.
Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican challenging Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in Colorado, likes to remind voters that his own family lost its health care plan because of Obamacare.
Democratic Sen. Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, who is trying to stave off a challenge from Mr. Cassidy, released an ad titled “Keeping the Promise” to tout her efforts to let Americans keep their existing plans.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.