Obama, Dems Get 60th Vote to Pass Health Care Reform

After months of wrangling, arm twisting and horse trading, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid seems to have the required number of votes to pass landmark health care reform legislation.

Speaking to the media earlier, President Obama noted that while much work is left to be done, “a major step forward” was taken today for the America people in making health care reform a reality in the United States of America.

The President said that, recently a number of amendments have been added which make the landmark bill even stronger.  In particular, penalties would be imposed on insurance companies that increased rates to consumers between passage of the bill and when the insurance exchange is established.  Yet another recent amendment to the bill would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to children, immediately after the bill’s passage.  Obama also said too that, there is explicit language in the bill protecting a patient’s choice of doctor; and that small businesses will receive additional assistance.

Obama informed the group that insurance companies will not be able to drop the coverage of persons who become ill and no longer will the insured have to pay excessive amounts out of pocket for needed treatments.

“Under this bill families will save on their premiums; businesses that will see their costs rise if we don’t act will save money now and in the future.  This bill with strengthen Medicare and extend the life of the program”, the President said.

Obama noted too that, the Congressional Budget Office had recently said the current bill will reduce the deficit by $132 billion over the first decade of the program, and more than one trillion dollars in the decade after that.

It is anticipated that the bill would make coverage affordable for over 30 millions Americans who do not currently have health care insurance.

The bill is expected to be put to a Senate vote just before Christmas.