Simple Universal Healthcare Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-3937
Sponsor: Rep. Terry, Lee [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2009-10-27 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: 
Simple Universal Healthcare Act of 2009 - Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a Citizen's Congressional Health Benefits Program (CCHBP) to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage similar to coverage that has been provided to Members of Congress and federal employees, retirees, and their dependents under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to: (1) federal elected officials; and (2) U.S. residents who are not covered under FEHBP. Authorizes the Director to enter into contracts with entities for the offering of qualified CCHBP health plans in a manner similar to the process by which the Director is authorized to enter into contracts with entities under FEHBP.
 
Requires any FEHBP health plan to be treated as a qualified CCHBP health plan. Requires CCHBP health plans to: (1) provide for the same scope and type of benefits that are provided under FEHBP; (2) provide a minimum level of preventive benefits determined by the Director, including vaccines for children and adults, an annual physical, cancer screening, and mental health parity; and (3) provide notice to any covered individual of any benefit or service that is not included in the calculation of the annual or lifetime out-of-pocket limit. Prohibits CCHBP health plans from imposing preexisting condition exclusions or otherwise discriminating based on health status with respect to individuals who enroll upon initial eligibility. Allows a plan to exclude an individual from enrolling based on a preexisting condition during an annual enrollment period after such individual's initial eligibility period.
 
Lists eligibility requirements. Excludes individuals enrolled under FEHBP or other specified public health insurance programs and incarcerated individuals. Requires the Director to promulgate regulations for the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to verify the legal presence and status of an individual, other than a U.S. citizen, who seeks to enroll in a qualified CCHBP plan.
 
 
Permits an employer to choose to participate in CCHBP and offer employees qualified CCHBP health plans as employer-sponsored health insurance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-10-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, 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: 2009-10-27
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H11816)
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-10-27
text: Introduced in House