“This legislation would give all of our citizens access to affordable health care, contain escalating health care costs that threaten our economic recovery, and improve Medicare prescription drug benefits for our seniors,” Mollohan said shortly before voting for passage of the legislation.

There are approximately 117,000 persons in Mollohan’s congressional district who are currently uninsured for different reasons. HR 3962 would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and it would prevent them from placing an annual or lifetime limit on benefits. The bill would also give uninsured Americans expanded choices in health care coverage by establishing a national marketplace that would allow them to select from a variety of private insurance plans as well as a new public option.

The public option would be available to those who are otherwise uninsured and would not be available to anyone who is already covered by an existing employer’s plan.

Mollohan helped clear the way for passage of the bill by arguing forcefully for an amendment to prohibit federal funding of abortion. Without that amendment, the votes of several dozen Members of Congress remained in doubt. Mollohan obtained the signatures of 28 of those Representatives on a letter to the House leadership endorsing the amendment. Late Friday night, the House leadership relented and decided to allow a vote on the amendment, which passed 240-194-1.

Noting that the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) strongly endorsed the legislation, Mollohan pointed out that seniors would be among the major beneficiaries of the bill.  "Seniors who have fallen into the prescription drug donut hole will see a reduction in their out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, this legislation will shore up the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund.”

Small business owners would also benefit from the legislation. “Their health care costs have grown a whopping 129% since 2000, and they are in desperate need of relief,” Mollohan said. “The national insurance marketplace set up by this legislation will allow them to comparison shop and get the best coverage at the cheapest price for their employees. Additionally, it will provide a tax credit to help them provide insurance for their employees.”

Other provisions in the legislation would promote competition among insurers by ending their existing antitrust exemption; allow young adults to remain on their parents’ policies through age 26; prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against anyone because of their health status; and provide subsidies to help lower-income families purchase basic insurance coverage.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the legislation will also reduce the national debt by $109 billion over ten years.

The House passed the bill 220-215. The Senate needs to adopt the legislation before sending it the President for his signature.