What is a Senator's Health Coverage Like?
In the recent debates between Barack Obama and John McCain, the issue of health care was once again brought up. One particular aspect of Obama's plan calls for readily available coverage to all citizens, no matter what their conditions, previous coverage, or health status.
Obama has mentioned that the new federal health insurance plan would be similar to the plan currently provided to federal employees, known as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). Researchers don't dispute the fact that the health plan is among the best available to individuals by their employer, but many assert that such a plan comes with a high price tag. Dr. Joseph R. Antos, in the New England Journal of Medicine cites statistics that say such a plan could cost as much as $12,000 a year, part of which would presumably be subsidized by the government in an Obama administration.
What Does a Federal Employee's Health Plan Cover?
So what does such a pricey plan offer to its recipients. As an example, plans offered to federal employees in California, range in premium from 80 to 200 dollars a month, depending on whether it's individual or family coverage. Plans, in general (federal employees can choose from a number of carriers) offer the following benefits:
| in-Network | out-Network | PPO | Non-PPO | HMO | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic Limit (individual) | $3,000 | $4,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $2,500 | |||||
| Catastrophic Limit (family) | $6,000 | $8,000 | $3,500 | $4,500 | $7,500 | |||||
| Annual Deductible | $750 | $750 | $300 | $300 | None | |||||
| Hospital Copay/deductible | 10% | 40% | Nothing | $200 | $100/day x 3 | |||||
| Hospital Room & Board Fees | None | None | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | |||||
| Primary Physician Copay | 10% | 40% | 10% | 30% | $10 | |||||
| Specialist Copay | 10% | 40% | 10% | 30% | $30 | |||||
| Prescription Deductible | CY Applies | CY Applies | None | None | None | |||||
| Generic Prescription Copay | $10 | 40%+ | $10 | $10 | $10 | |||||
| Generic Prescription Mail-Order Copay | $20 | N/A | $20 | $20 | $20 | |||||
| Brand Name Drugs Copay | $25 | 40%+ | 25%/$25 min. | 25%/$25 min. | $30 | |||||
| Brand Name Drugs Mail-order Copay | $50 | N/A | $40 | $40 | $60 | |||||
Critics of offering such a plan to the portion of the public that isn't insured by their employer say that it would cost billions of dollars to taxpayers. However, Obama sees health care as a basic human right. Obama stated in his third Presidential Debate at Hofstra University in Long Island: "As I travel around the country, this is the issue that will break your heart over and over again."
The question of health care, Obama presents as a moral one, while McCain sees it as an economic concern. Clearly McCain wants to offer more choice, but Obama contends that choice is not always good for those who don't have the opportunity to choose.
Last Updated : Friday, October 31, 2008
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