I attended Peter DeFazio’s town hall meeting in Eugene yesterday evening. It was moved from City Hall to the Convention Center. There was clearly a LOT of interest. The room had seating for 1000 people with more standing around the edges.
The questions came from a wide range of political perspectives with nearly all asked in a respectful manner. Many people offered good money saving ideas. There seemed to be wide acceptance by everyone for standardizing paperwork and getting rid of the law that exempts insurance companies from anti-trust legislation.
Through the questions I was able to pick up more information about various proposals. An encouraging bit of news was that DeFazio felt that the deal Obama made with Big Pharma could be improved since the house had not accepted it. Perhaps there will be negotiating on drug prices yet. One very discouraging part is that the house bill as currently written doesn’t go into effect until 2013, the year in which I will turn 65.
This time I won the lottery to ask a question. This is what I asked:
"I am 61. My husband is 59. Since he was laid off last year, our insurance coverage has come through COBRA. I am self employed so no insurance there. If my husband doesn’t find a job soon, we will be kicked off COBRA.
Our only option after COBRA eligibility ends will be an age rated plan with larger premiums and less coverage. I understand that all the bills out there continue to allow age rated pricing.
Is there a provision in any of these bills to allow people to keep COBRA for a longer period of time—say until eligibility for Medicare? Or maybe allow early buy-in to Medicare? This is particularly important to those of us over 55."
The answer was that the house bill does limit age rating, but that the premiums can still be double for older people. Apparently there is nothing in the bill to change COBRA regulations or allow early buy-in to Medicare.
So it looks like this legislation is unlikely to help those in situations like mine in any way.
I believe we need to take whatever steps we can to improve this bill. Maybe this reform won't help me at all, but we do need to keep working to make the bill better. Taking the time to educate folks so we get a bill that includes more good reforms is worth it. What is gained by passing a flawed law RIGHT NOW that won't go into effect until 2013?
It would be worth waiting to 2010 to pass a good law that takes effect in 2011.