Health Care Eligibility ... New Members of Congress

You're right, Taskr, and thanks for the "So what?"...lol! I don't know what, if any, portion of the premiums members of Congress pay for their health insurance but when I worked for the USPS I was paying close to $150 out of each paycheck. When my husband got hir3ed by the state I dropped mine and went on his because his is paid for 100% and it's pretty much the same coverage from the same HMO, plus we get dental and vision coverage which we didn't under mine. There are, or at least there were plans available for federal employees that included dental and/or vision care but we had to weigh all the various factors - cost per pay, deductibles or co-pays, prescription coverage, etc. - when choosing a plan. Federal workers don't get the fantastic benefits some think they do. Annie

The exchanges which will kick in by 2014 are modeled after the FEHBP. That's what I guess many are calling "socialized medicine" when what it actually is is giving people choices among many different private insurers. Annie

So what? My current job pays almost 100% of the premiums and that is for my entire family. Most jobs pay part of the premiums. My point was that they are not getting government health care like gladys said.

Congressional person's health care is the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) it is administered by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ... they enjoy the widest selection of health care plans in the country ... the opted for coverages are offered by OPM from those private ins. companies engaged by the FEHB. This is more like the Public Option that progressives fought hard for but lost.

I am aware of their benefits, I just think it should better match citizen's

I agree Laglen.

Here is a link about the federal plan and the health care reform bill. The rates are even better than many other group plans because it's such a huge pool of people; when those enrolling in the exchange are added, it should bring the premiums down even lower since there will be a much larger pool. Also, in the government plans as it will be in the exchange, nobody can be denied due to preexisting conditions or dropped due to reaching a cap. http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/59307 Annie

Hi annie ... thanks for your comment, I appreciate it!! Yes, we sure did hear of that fit had by a republican new comer to congress! I'd love to have a plan "administered" by the OPM (an actual government entity)... I mean, there you have group rates ... a very large group being offered an array of options!