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U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Special Report with Bret Baier to discuss the impending government shutdown, the possibility of a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal, and the indictment of Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). See below for highlights and watch the full...
Rubio: “So we can’t guarantee it? In essence, there will be people that will lose their existing coverage that they’re happy with because their employer will make a change as a result of the requirements of the law?”
Official: “I can’t answer that question.”
Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Hearing on the Implementation of ObamaCare
Senator Marco Rubio Questions Obama Administration Officials
July 24, 2013
http://youtu.be/zK4-zsTyVcc
Senator Marco Rubio: “How confident are you that every exchange out there – the 17 states, the 33 federal ones – that all of them, will offer multiple choices for patients?”
Ms. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Deputy Director for Policy and Regulations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “I am very confident that we’ll have choice.”
Rubio: “In all of them?”
Brooks- LaSure: “Again, that we will have choice. I can’t speak to specific states. But I will also say, this is a voluntary engagement. This is based on the private sector and so we’re working with them and private sector companies makes choices. But we think this is a very attractive option for them and expect many insurers to participate.”
Rubio: “If you’re a worker at a small business, can we guarantee that none of them will lose their existing coverage if they’re happy with it?”
Brooks-LaSure: “Well, in terms of what they’re being offered, small employers will have additional options. Again, there are changes being made, which benefit small employers, meaning that their insurance companies have requirements about what they need to offer for them.”
Rubio: “But point being, one of the promises that was made in this law that was passed is if you have insurance and you’re happy with it you’ll get to keep it. Can we guarantee that due to this law, no one will lose coverage that they’re happy with?”
Brooks-LaSure: “People will make choices about what kind of coverage they choose.”
Rubio: “So we can’t guarantee it? In essence, there will be people that will lose their existing coverage that they’re happy with because their employer will make a change as a result of the requirements of the law?”
Brooks-LaSure: “I can’t answer that question.”
Rubio: “Ok. What about doctors? Can we ensure everyone that has a doctor that they’re happy with that they’re going to be put on a plan that includes that doctor in the network?”
Brooks-LaSure: “Doctors in this country make choices about whether they want to participate. Again, we are working with insurers. Insurers are working and needing to meet certain state and federal requirements about network adequacy.”
Rubio: “So is it possible that someone who today has an existing relationship with a doctor that they are happy with will no longer be able to see that doctor because they are now going to be moved to a plan that that doctor is not part of the network?”
Brooks-LaSure: “No one is moved to a plan. People make choices about what kind of coverage they choose.”
Rubio: “Well their employer may make choices as a result of the law’s requirements.”
Brooks-LaSure: “Exactly.”