House of Delegates approves bills promising lower-cost health insurance

March 07--State Senate bills aimed at helping Virginians find cheaper insurance squeaked through the House of Delegates Tuesday.

But though they had earlier sailed through the Senate with hints that they'd be part of a comprehensive effort to boost access to health care, senior Senate Republicans said they weren't likely to ease their caucus' opposition to expanding Medicaid.

The bills would expand access to insurance policies that don't offer all the benefits of Affordable Care Act policies and that cost much less as a result.

They would also clear the way for associations of small employers to join together to purchase the kind of employee coverage that bigger companies routinely offer.

They passed the House on strict 51-46 partisan lines, with three Democrats away from the Capitol. They passed the Senate with no opposition.

"I think these are helpful pieces, but they're not enough" to sway Senate opponents of Medicaid expansion, said state Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon.

The Senate and House are in a standoff over expanding Medicaid to cover all Virginians with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level -- a cut off of $16,642 for a single adult -- in order to draw billions of dollars of Affordable Care Act funds.

The House approved a budget based on a version of Medicaid expansion, with the state's share of that cost covered by a tax on hospitals.

Hanger, who says he would like to see Medicaid expansion, objects to the hospital tax and is concerned that the House budget doesn't put enough money into a new cash reserve to protect Virginia's triple-A bond ratings.

Other Senate Republicans are even less interested in Medicaid expansion, saying they're concerned that Washington will back away from Affordable Care Act support and that the costs to the state will be higher than forecast.

They also say helping people who make too much for Medicaid find affordable coverage is a top concern.

"I hear this from members of my own family; there are a lot of working, middle-class Virginians who just can't afford the metals plans," said state Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, referring to the "bronze," "silver" and "gold" Affordable Care Act plans.

But like Hanger, he did not see approval of the Senate health insurance bills as clearing the way for Medicaid expansion.

He said the Senate is focused more on helping the most vulnerable Virginians, pointing to its decision to fund more Medicaid support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, arguing for the House to adopt the Senate bills, said the aim was to offer people more options.

But House Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, said the cheaper short-term insurance and catastrophic coverage that the Senate bills expand could lead buyers to think they had more coverage that they really did.

He also said the bills would set off still more stinging premium increases for Affordable Care Act plans.

President Trump said he would impose penalties of 25% on imported steel and 10% on aluminum next week.

President Trump said he would impose penalties of 25% on imported steel and 10% on aluminum next week.

Russian trolls used Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to inflame U.S. political debate over energy policy and climate change. A new report from the House Science, Space and Technology Committee includes unreleased social media posts that Russians created. (Mar. 1, 2018)

Russian trolls used Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to inflame U.S. political debate over energy policy and climate change. A new report from the House Science, Space and Technology Committee includes unreleased social media posts that Russians created. (Mar. 1, 2018)

Ress can be reached by telephone at 757-247-4535

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