Legislation Introduced to Provide for a Health Care Plan Modeled After Federal Employee Health Benefits Program

Legislation recently introduced in Congress would create a nationwide health insurance plan similar to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, available to all citizens and documented immigrants. Under the plan, uninsured residents would be required to enroll in a health plan that meets national standards and would be responsible for up to 28% of premiums. Employers would be required to either offer health insurance to their employees or contribute a payroll assessment of up to $12,000 per employee to finance the government-sponsored health insurance. Individuals' and businesses' contributions would be subsidized on a sliding scale, under the plan.