U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) on May 12 introduced the bipartisan Health Care Protection Act, which would ensure continuity of coverage under a group health plan through the COVID–19 pandemic.
“In less than two months,” Rep. Davis said, “we’ve gone from one of the greatest economies I’ve seen in my lifetime to the highest jobless rates since the Great Depression. We have to help people keep their health insurance.”
Rep. Davis sponsored H.R. 6810 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) to establish a Health Care Protection Program Fund that would provide grants to employers toward providing premium assistance for COBRA benefits, according to the text of the bill.
If enacted, H.R. 6810 also would provide six months of premium assistance in the amount of what an employer previously provided, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Davis’ office. The legislation also would create a 30-day special enrollment period on the Affordable Care Act exchanges for individuals who are eligible for coverage but are not enrolled.
“Nearly 20 years ago, my wife was in the fight of her life battling colon cancer and I would never want someone going through something like that in fear of losing their doctors or their provider because they’ve lost their job due to a pandemic without an option of getting another one,” said Rep. Davis. “Our bill is a reasonable, bipartisan approach to helping people afford healthcare during this crisis and it’s frankly something Congress could use a little bit more of right now.”
Among numerous provisions, H.R. 6810 would provide six months of COBRA premium assistance in the amount that equals what the individual’s former employer paid for coverage. “Effectively, the individual does not pay more for COBRA benefits than the individual paid for coverage while employed,” according to the bill summary. The benefit would be available starting after enactment through Jan. 1, 2021.
The bill has garnered the support of several groups, including the Healthcare Leadership Council, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and the Alliance to Fight for Health Care.