刺激提案包括健康保险提议，但其他人还有想法(下)
But that proposal is encountering resistance from both Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-MA, says it does not go far enough. He wants a 75% COBRA subsidy, as well as an immediate 2% increase in Medicaid rates overall, in addition to Baucus' Medicaid proposal.
Senate Finance committee ranking member Charles Grassley, R-IA, told reporters Tuesday that while Republicans want to help those who have lost their insurance, they don't want to do it through COBRA. "We want to do it through a block grant to the states," he said.
Interest groups also have a variety of ideas. A report issued Monday by Consumers Union called for a COBRA premium subsidy of between 50 and 75%, with a state option to pay more of the premium for those with incomes up to 450% of the federal poverty line, as well as a Medicaid expansion along the lines of the one proposed by Baucus.
More conservative groups, however, oppose that approach, particularly the Medicaid expansions. "Medicaid is a welfare program that has provided substandard healthcare, and Congress should avoid enrolling working families in it," said a paper from the Heritage Foundation.
Heritage is proposing that laid-off employees who have "flexible spending accounts" be able to roll those tax-free dollars into their COBRA premiums, and that they be allowed to continue making the tax-free contributions for the remainder of the year to pay their COBRA premiums.
The National Center for Policy Analysis, meanwhile, is proposing an expansion of tax credits for those who purchase their own policies, as well as making Medical Savings Accounts available to everyone. Currently, only those in small businesses and the self-employed may open the tax-preferred policies. "Rather than having to spend $600 a month to keep their insurance intact, laid off workers might prefer a less expensive plan that will cover them in case of emergencies," wrote NCPA's Greg Scandlen., 百拇医药
Senate Finance committee ranking member Charles Grassley, R-IA, told reporters Tuesday that while Republicans want to help those who have lost their insurance, they don't want to do it through COBRA. "We want to do it through a block grant to the states," he said.
Interest groups also have a variety of ideas. A report issued Monday by Consumers Union called for a COBRA premium subsidy of between 50 and 75%, with a state option to pay more of the premium for those with incomes up to 450% of the federal poverty line, as well as a Medicaid expansion along the lines of the one proposed by Baucus.
More conservative groups, however, oppose that approach, particularly the Medicaid expansions. "Medicaid is a welfare program that has provided substandard healthcare, and Congress should avoid enrolling working families in it," said a paper from the Heritage Foundation.
Heritage is proposing that laid-off employees who have "flexible spending accounts" be able to roll those tax-free dollars into their COBRA premiums, and that they be allowed to continue making the tax-free contributions for the remainder of the year to pay their COBRA premiums.
The National Center for Policy Analysis, meanwhile, is proposing an expansion of tax credits for those who purchase their own policies, as well as making Medical Savings Accounts available to everyone. Currently, only those in small businesses and the self-employed may open the tax-preferred policies. "Rather than having to spend $600 a month to keep their insurance intact, laid off workers might prefer a less expensive plan that will cover them in case of emergencies," wrote NCPA's Greg Scandlen., 百拇医药