Citizenship Should Count for Something Act

Bill: 110-hr-6806
Sponsor: Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [R-VA-5]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Marketing and advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Citizenship Should Count for Something Act - Establishes the Citizens Congressional Health Benefits Program to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to federal elected officials and to all other citizens who are not covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). Requires such coverage to be provided in a manner similar to the manner in which coverage has been provided under FEHBP.

Eliminates eligibility of the President, Vice-President, and members of Congress for FEHBP.

Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to: (1) establish a process for eligible individuals to enroll in qualified health plans; (2) provide for the dissemination of information on such plans; and (3) enter into contracts with entities to offer such plans.

Requires qualified health plans to: (1) provide for the same scope and type of comprehensive benefits that have been provided under FEHBP; and (2) meet consumer and patient protections. Prohibits qualified health plans from imposing preexisting condition exclusions or otherwise discriminating against an enrollee based on health status. 

Requires premiums established for a qualified health plan to be community-rated and not vary based on gender, health status, or other factors.

Requires the Director to: (1) establish a process for the collection of premiums owed by enrollees; (2) monitor marketing practices to assure the accuracy of information disseminated and reasonable costs for such marketing; and (3) provide for an annual contribution towards the coverage provided under this Act for eligible individuals.

Authorizes the Director to establish a contingency reserve and to impose a premium surcharge to provide financing for such reserve. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House