Senate GOP Tweaks Health Care Bill

In their newest effort to get votes for their health care reform measure, Senate Republicans released revisions to the bill Monday, Bloomberg reported.

The biggest change a provision that would encourage people to remain enrolled in coverage instead of signing up in advance of needing care and then dropping the coverage afterward. The enrollment incentive would be in place of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, which the Senate bill would eliminate.

Instead of imposing an individual mandate to maintain coverage, the Senate bill would impose a six-month waiting period before new insurance goes into effect for anyone who had a break in coverage lasting 63 days or longer in the prior year. It would take effect beginning in 2019.

Senators are awaiting a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score of their health care bill. The CBO could release its findings as early as today.

A vote on the bill is planned in the Senate by the end of this week.

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at Susan.Rupe@innfeedback.com.

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Susan Rupe is editor in chief, magazine, for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at susan.rupe@innfeedback.com.