With an unprecedented bipartisan summit behind him, President Obama has vowed to move forward in the historic quest to enact comprehensive health care reforms. Despite opponents’ insistence on scrapping the bills passed by both the House and Senate in 2009, the President is determined to proceed with legislation that combines the best elements of the two bills, which have more in common than critics acknowledge.

Both bills expand Medicaid to cover children and adults under age 65. Medicaid typically covers individuals and families who meet certain income qualifications and generally does not pass premiums onto its subscribers. By expanding Medicaid to include people with incomes above the federal poverty line ($18,310 for a family of three), the House and Senate have agreed on a path to affordable coverage for all Americans.

Both bills prohibit insurance companies from imposing lifetime caps on benefits, similar to a proposal before the Maine legislature. Both also create a national high risk pool to cover people with high-risk medical conditions. Both mandate that everyone purchase insurance, exempting people with extreme financial hardship, and both provide subsidies to help cover out-of-pocket costs to enable low and moderate income earners to afford coverage. Both establish some form of an insurance exchange, allowing qualified individuals and businesses to obtain coverage; create essential benefits plans to guarantee comprehensive services; and encourage preventive care to foster a healthier America and rein in costs.

Including all of these provisions, which both Houses have already approved, will provide a firm foundation for comprehensive health care reform and represent a giant step toward our goal of quality health care that all Americans can afford.

For a discussion of the latest developments watch this week’s State of the State, MECEP’s community television program, hosted by Christopher St. John with guests Joe Ditre, Executive Director, Consumers for Affordable Health Care; Trish Riley, Director of the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance; and Andy MacLean, Deputy Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Maine Medical Association.

Resources: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Kaiser Family Foundation