WASHINGTON — Riven by partisanship, the Senate plunged into a debate Monday over sweeping health care legislation that President Barack Obama and the Democrats have vowed to approve and Republicans have sworn to block.
Debate is expected to last for weeks over the legislation, which includes a first-time requirement for most Americans to carry insurance and a mandate for insurers to cover any paying customer regardless of medical history or condition.
“We must avoid the temptation to drown in distractions and distortions,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in the first speech, a jab at Republicans that was reciprocated minutes later.
“Well, I don’t know what’s more preposterous: saying that this plan saves Medicare or thinking that people will actually believe you,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Even before Reid rose to speak, the two parties were squabbling over a new Congressional Budget Office study assessing the legislation’s impact on the cost of insurance.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said it showed that “whether you work for a small business, a large company or you work for yourself, the vast majority of Americans will see lower premiums than they would if we don’t pass health reform.”
Not so, said a statement from McConnell’s office: “Most people will end up paying more or seeing no significant savings.”
The 28-page report was less clear-cut than either side said.
It said that by 2016, premium prices for Americans working at large companies, about 134 million people, would be between zero and 3 percent lower on average than would otherwise be the case.
At small companies, estimated to provide coverage for 25 million by 2016, the average premium would be between 1 percent higher and 2 percent lower on average. That did not factor in the federal subsidies that would be available to the firms to spur them to provide coverage. Those receiving the assistance would have premiums as much as 11 percent lower on average.
The CBO said that for non-group coverage, premiums would rise by 10 to 13 percent on average. But more than half that group is expected to receive federal subsidies that would result in premiums as much as 59 percent less costly on average. Individuals purchasing coverage without any federal assistance would presumably face higher costs, although CBO’s letter did not indicate how much more.
Reid sought Republicans’ agreement that Social Security would be protected. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., objected, saying Reid had refused to extend the same protection to Medicare.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., proposed stripping out $440 billion in Medicare cuts to home health providers, hospitals, hospices and other organizations, saying those reductions could not be sustained politically.
The House approved its version of the health care bill last month. It would have to be reconciled with any Senate- passed measure before legislation could go to Obama.
