Tagging what the administration has done in regard to congress's healthcare coverage as an exemption to the ACA is interesting but hardly accurate. Far from exempting Congress from the ACA requirements, as some have reported, members and congressional staff of over 24,000, are subject to the additional legal requirements that will apply to no other Americans. They must purchase insurance from the exchanges.Given all the waivers granted to folks who want to avoid ObamaCare (including Congress), it's highly unlikely we could ever achieve Medicare for All.
The outcome will be a two tiered system of special health care for the political elite and their cronies, with chronic shortages and rationing for those of us who pay for the entire system.
No thank you; I'll pass.
The problem is the law does not allow congressman and staff to continue participation in the federal employee group health plan because it can not be offered on the exchange at this time because their employer, the US government has more that 100 employees.
The government is resolving the problem by subsidizing congressmen and staff in the amount of 72% of average cost of their current group plan, Federal Employee Health Insurance Program. The subsidy must be used to purchase health insurance on the exchanges. The subsidy will continue until 2017 when the Federal Employee Health Program can be made available on the exchange or the law amended to allow congress and staff to participate in the federal group health insurance program like other federal employees.
In regard to waivers, Obama has stated more than once that his administration would issue waivers to help employers and insurers meet the requirements of the law.
Implementing Health Reform: A Proposed Rule On Congressional Exchange Participation ? Health Affairs Blog
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