U. S. Senate Republicans are expected to issue a revised version of their health-care bill on Monday.
Senate Republicans issued a revised version of their health-care bill on Monday, as the chamber’s leaders scurried to win support and get the bill passed by a July 4 holiday recess that starts on Friday.
The modest changes appear to aim to encourage younger, healthier people to enroll in insurance plans. Beginning in 2019, individuals who had gaps in coverage in the previous year of 63 days or more will face a six-month waiting period before their coverage starts.
The Senate plan was unveiled last week and immediately criticized by both conservatives and moderates Republicans.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would not comment on whether votes on whatever bill is finally crafted would be held in the full Senate on Thursday, as originally anticipated.
At least four conservative Republicans have expressed opposition to the draft legislation, saying it does not go far enough in repealing former President Barack Obama’s health-care law known as Obamacare.
Meanwhile, some moderate Republicans have either withheld judgment or expressed doubts about replacing Obamacare with legislation that is similar to a health care measure narrowly passed by the House of Representatives last month.
That measure initially was supported by President Donald Trump, who later was reported to have described it as « mean. »
One moderate Republican, Susan Collins, said on ABC’s « This Week » program on Sunday that she had « very serious concerns » about the bill floated last week. She also expressed doubts that legislation would clear the Senate this week.
Moderates are worried their party’s approach to health care would kick too many people off their insurance plans after Obamacare expanded coverage to millions of Americans since it was enacted seven years ago.
A provision ending federal funding of Planned Parenthood, the women’s health care provider, for one year has also caused concerns among moderate Republicans.
Conservatives have been calling for an end to federal funding of Planned Parenthood because it performs abortions, even though they are not performed with taxpayer dollars.
