BRUMFIELD – U.S. lawmakers have similar health coverage compared to the citizens they serve
If you think health care insurance for your U.S. representative or senator is a lot better than yours, think again.
“It’s very similar – it resembles most employer-based options,” said Paul “Buzzy” Mize, a longtime Tupelo insurance businessman.
Tonight, President Barack Obama will lay out his vision for American health care reform to a joint session of Congress.
He, those members of Congress and all full-time federal employees have the same options when they sign up for health insurance.
Their choices include HMOs, PPOs and fee-for-service plans, much like private insurance plans available through American employers.
“I don’t see a lot of differences,” said Mize, a longtime Republican.
However, federal lawmakers have some attractive features not available to the general public.
– They can use taxpayer-subsidized care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
– They have their own pharmacy, as well as doctors, nurses and technicians standing by in the U.S. Capitol.
That means they can get a physical or an X-ray without leaving work, but they pay for these services at a monthly rate of about $300 per representative and $600 per senator.
www.nems360.com
9/9/9
