Senator to unveil federal universal health plan today

Not waiting for the swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama or the new Congress, Sen. Max Baucus is set to release today a detailed federal plan for universal health coverage (Source: “Senator Takes Initiative on Health Care,” New York Times, Nov. 12, 2008).

The plan being presented by Baucus, a Montana Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, would eventually require all Americans to have health insurance coverage, with federal subsidies for those who can not afford it. Aides to Obama said they welcome Congressional efforts to take the lead on health care reform.

Among the provisions in the Baucus plan are:
• Opening up Medicare to the 4 million Americans aged 55 to 64 who do have access to public or group health coverage
• Making Medicaid available to everyone below the poverty level, which would provide access to at least 7 million people
• Expanding SCHIP to cover all uninsured children in families with incomes at or below 250 percent of FPL