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Sebelius bullish on healthcare bill passing by weekend
by Smrity Sharma - March 17, 2010 - comments
Kathleen Sebelius, the United States Health and Human Services Secretary, said Tuesday that she is pretty sure the House of Representatives will pass health care legislation by this weekend. Sebelius is encouraging senior Americans to call their Congressmen in support health care legislation.
"I think we're on track for a vote sometime this weekend. I don't think (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) has decided exactly when, but Friday or Saturday seem to be the likely timetables," Sebelius said before speaking at a press conference on a National Council on Aging meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
As President Barack Obama made the last effort to get a healthcare bill passed by this Friday, Sebelius looked back at the legislation's long path. Sebelius said supporters could have done a better job fixing wrong information on death panels and cuts to Medicare.
She said those opposite to healthcare overhaul worked on scaring the old population in America, but supporters could have been more aggressive at explaining to elderly what the package offers them.
Health insurers and medical care costs
The health care legislation would provide health insurance to tens of millions who currently have none and would ban insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
This move will enable most of the Americans to get their insurance and would also subsidize premiums for poor and middle-income group in U.S.
Sebelius said, "I don't know of an issue that has had more conversation, more hearings, more CNN coverage, more C-SPAN coverage, more debates, more town hall meetings, more votes than health care."
Only 15 days ago, she had asked for the relevant information to be passed on from the country's largest health insurers, such as the parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, United States, to see how much these plans are spending on medical care.
She told that if at least 80 cents of every dollar is not spent by health care agencies on medical care, they should be banned to sell policies to individuals and small groups as part of the legislation that will be created after health reform passes.
Assurance to older American population
The crowd, who came to listen to Sebelius’ speech, included hundreds of social workers, gerontologists, senior center directors, and others who work with elderly population. They were assured by Sebelius that their clients stand to gain from the legislation.
According to polls conducted across America, old populations are more secretive or quiet about the acceptance of bills.