Political Posturing or Personal Preference? Some Lawmakers Reject Health Insurance

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Fourteen Freshman Republicans Turn Away Federal Health Benefits, Say Health Care Law is not the Reason

Several freshman Republican lawmakers are rejecting one of the most cherished benefits granted to public servants: federal health insurance. But it's not for the reason one might expect. Many from this bunch cite personal preference rather than opposition to the new health care law as their motivation.

Fourteen of the 85 new Republican lawmakers who were sworn in just weeks ago have declined federal health benefits, opting instead for alternative plans.

Like some of his colleagues, Rep. Richard Nugent, R-Fla., says he felt uneasy at the idea of taxpayers subsidizing his health benefits, even though switching over to a federal plan would have saved him about $9,000 a year.

Instead, Nugent, a former sheriff, opted to continue getting health insurance through the COBRA plan, a relatively expensive health plan that employers are required to provide for their former workers for a certain period of time.

"It has to do with just fundamental fairness," Nugent told ABC News. "This is an elected office. I just feel it shouldn't be like a career and I shouldn't be able to able to enrich myself through that, so it was just a personal choice. It had nothing to do with Obamacare."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/freshman-members-congress-decline-federal-health-insurance/story?id=12725034

[xchrom]

1. Cobra? Well what house members make each year?

Many people can't afford cobra.

[nyy1998]

4. $174,000 for regular members, $193,000 for Majority and Minority Leaders, and 223,500 for Speaker

[ladywnch]

2. so what's he going to do in 18 months when the COBRA runs out

pay the whole nut himself?......I don't think so. They'll quietly sign up during open enrollment in 2 years and that will be the end of that.

[Historic NY]

3. exactly .

[SoapBox]

6. Ditto and Exactly again.

[tammywammy]

10. That's exactly what I was thinking n/t

[Kennah]

11. Nothing sinister at all will occur ...

... for I believe when COBRA runs out, that is a valid Qualifying Life Event.

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/fehb10.asp#qle

[ladywnch]

12. yes, it is. The POINT IS that: when his COBRA expires

he WILL go on the federal program (quietly) instead of doing what the rest of us would have to do which is to buy individual insurance. So, in reality, they are just postponing their enrollment for political purposes. And I sure they will make full disclosure to their districts when the do move on the government dole.

He is also enjoying the benefits of Obama's Stimulus Package which I'm SURE he will give Obama full credit for. :sarcasm: He is getting an additional 6 months of COBRA and at a reduced rate since the Fed is subsidizing COBRA premiums.

[SoapBox]

5. Laughable...

...I would want to see exactly how many of these RushThugs and T.HaterBaggers are
going out and getting an individual policy from insurance companies.

For almost all Americans, getting such a policy is unaffordable.

I've seen that several of these blow-hards are still using healthcare benefits
from a previous local or state position. Using those benefits is still under
a group type policy and NOT the same as being cut off and tossed in the street
without any access to such policies.

RushThugs, T.HaterBaggers, GOBPers, Party of No members...always lying...always making up some kind of story.

[madrchsod]

7. did`t bother him while he was a sheriff.

he`d save 9000 a year if he switched? i wonder what his cobra payments are.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. who paid his health insurance when he was sheriff?

[defendandprotect]

8. Interesting movement there -- why should taxpayers finance health care for Congress...

if Congress doesn't provide MEDICARE FOR ALL for citizens?

We should all be covered by the same health care plan --

both citizens and Congress!!

[bluestateguy]

9. We should welcome people who walk the walk and don't just talk the talk

14 Republicans out of 242 in the House and 47 in the Senate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. aren't some of his family insured under the military?