Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) on Wednesday introduced legislation to let Americans on the individual market keep their insurance policy for another two years.
The bill requires insurers to continue policies that were in effect as of Sept. 30, 2013 until Dec. 31, 2015 if the consumers choose to renew them and meet the eligibility requirements, Udall’s spokesman confirmed to TPM. His spokesman said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who is also up for re-election in 2014, is cosponsoring the legislation.
Similar legislation introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), another senator fighting for re-election, and five other Democratic senators would require insurers to continue such existing plans indefinitely, unless policy holders violate eligibility requirements or the insurance carrier pulls out of the market entirely.
“I have repeatedly said that the Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, and it will need to be improved as it is implemented. This common-sense bill ensures the health reform law allows Coloradans to maintain insurance coverage,” Udall said in a statement. “I share the concern that some health insurance companies are choosing to cancel thousands of Coloradans’ plans. That’s why my common-sense bill will allow Coloradans the option to keep their current coverage if they want or to purchase new plans through the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace that may better meet their health care needs.”
Brook Hougesen, a spokewoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, immediately decried the move as “[p]urely political.”
.@sahilkapur So Mark Udall is saying folks can only keep their health plans until he’s past his next election? Purely political. #COSen
— Brook Hougesen (@Brook_H) November 13, 2013
