Senate presents health reform proposal

The Finance Committee’s long-awaited bill attempts to compromise, but no consensus yet.

Democratic Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus pledged to work with Republicans to come up with a health care reform proposal. The result was released yesterday, without Republican backing. It includes many of the President’s goals:

• no denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions
• mandated health insurance for citizens
• tax on larger employers if they don’t provide health insurance

Notably different is the lack of a public health insurance option. Instead, the bill would encourage co-op style insurance groups.