Congressman Davis working on plan for furloughed workers to keep health insurance

Springfield, IL - Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) hopes to keep affordable health insurance plans for individuals that are laid off or furloughed. Davis says people should be able to keep their doctors and stay on the same treatment plan if they are forced out of work in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

COBRA health insurance allows people to keep their employer-based health plan for a limited period of time after losing a job. Davis hopes to provide six months of COBRA premium coverage by having employers pay a portion of the costs through payroll tax reductions. He says no one should have to pay an unreasonably high cost out of pocket to keep the same doctors.

"At this point in time, I think it's a good investment to help through payroll tax reductions to help those employees stick with the same doctors and clinics and facilities that they're used to," Davis said.

In short, the Congressman says people shouldn't have to pay more for COBRA benefits than they paid for the plan while employed. Davis says his bill also includes a 30 day special enrollment period on Affordable Care Act exchanges. That could benefit anyone eligible for coverage who isn't currently enrolled.

"It's not just about having a doctor to go to; it's about having your doctor, you know. My wife got cancer 21 years ago. I could not imagine being told that I would have to pay an exorbitant amount for COBRA insurance to keep the doctors who were treating her cancer at the time."

If Congress approves the plan, benefits will be available through January 1, 2021.

Davis is also working across the aisle with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) to stop large health care organizations from furloughing nurses. The Nurse Workforce Protection Act would require health care providers to retain at least 75% of nursing staff in order to receive federal funding for COVID-19 relief. Davis says small businesses have to follow this horrible to get assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program.

"Many of our hospitals and clinics have received already, I maintain, $50 billion in investments with no strings attached," Davis said. "I think they should follow the same rules our dinky businesses and Mom & Pop shops follow."

Their proposal also bans providers from forcing nurses to take paid or unpaid leave. "Nurses are our frontline heroes, putting their lives on the line during this public health crisis every single day," stated Gabbard. "They deserve the support they need to do their jobs."

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SRC: https://wgem.com/2020/06/10/congressman-davis-working-on-plan-for-furloughed-workers-to-keep-health-insurance/

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