@InfraBlue,
False. NEVER did Democrats intentionally mislead about a vote.
Key events leading up to the passage of Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act)
Next, follow the timeline of key events leading up to the passage of the Obamacare law, along with key provisions that went into place after the law was enacted.
July 2009: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives reveal their plan for overhauling the health-care system. It’s called H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
August 25, 2009: Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy, a leading supporter of health-care reform, dies and puts the Senate Democrats’ 60-seat supermajority required to pass a piece of legislation at risk.
September 24, 2009: Democrat Paul Kirk is appointed interim senator from Massachusetts, which temporarily restores the Democrats’ filibuster-proof 60th vote.
November 7, 2009: In the House of Representatives, 219 Democrats and one Republican vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, and 39 Democrats and 176 Republicans vote against it.
December 24, 2009: In the Senate, 60 Democrats vote for the Senate’s version of the bill, called America’s Healthy Future Act, whose lead author is senator Max Baucus of California. Thirty-nine Republicans vote against the bill, and one Republican senator, Jim Bunning, does not vote.
January 2010: In the Senate, Scott Brown, a Republican, wins the special election in Massachusetts to finish out the remaining term of US senator Ted Kennedy, a Democrat. Brown campaigned heavily against the health-care law and won an upset victory in a state that consistently votes in favor of the Democratic party.
In January 2010, eHealth published research conducted by Opinion Research highlighting public perceptions of health-care reform.
March 11, 2010: Now lacking the 60th vote needed to pass the bill, Senate Democrats decide to use budget reconciliation in order to get to one bill approved by the House and the Senate. The use of budget reconciliation only requires 51 Senators to vote in favor of the bill in order for it to go to the president’s desk for signature.
March 21, 2010: The Senate’s version of the health-care plan is approved by the House in a 219-212 vote. All Republicans and 34 Democrats vote against the plan.
March 23, 2010: President Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law.
Changes Required by the Affordable Care Act Immediately
March 23, 2010:Grandfathered health plans: Anyone who had an individually purchased health insurance plan in place had a health insurance plan with “grandfathered status,” which meant that, by-in-large, the plan could stay the same as long as their insurer continued to offer that plan.
March 23, 2010:Non-grandfathered health plans: Anyone who bought a health insurance plan after March 23, 2010 would eventually have to enroll in a new plan that met all of the new standards of the Affordable Care Act. The original deadline for this transition was January 1, 2014 or on a plan’s renewal date within the 2014 plan year.
On April 7, 2010: eHealth publishes a list of FAQs and tips for consumers and small business owners who buy their own health insurance.
Changes Required by the Affordable Care Act After 90 Days
June 23, 2010:
Small business tax credits:For certain small businesses, there are tax credits of up to 35% of premiums.
Access to the federal high-risk pool for the uninsured with pre-existing conditions:There are $5 billion allocated for individuals who cannot qualify for insurance. These funds allow them to buy insurance from the government; but, this coverage is not free.
Reinsurance for retiree health benefit plans:This is a temporary reinsurance program that provides reimbursement to participating employment-based plans for a portion of the cost of providing health insurance coverage to early retirees.
July 1, 2010:
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP): This program is designed to make health insurance available to those that have been denied coverage by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition.1 Forbes
