Capping another turbulent week for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation that would permit insurance carriers to offer existing insurance plans on the individual market throughout 2014, essentially allowing millions of Americans to keep their policies next year.
Falling largely along party lines, the 261-157 vote on the Keep Your Health Plan Act picked up support from 39 Democrats and opposition from only four Republicans; the act is sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.). It also followed by a day an announcement that President Barack Obama wants to take executive action to address consumers' canceled insurance policies, which have caused a political uproar.
The key difference between Upton's bill and the White House's solution lies in the ability of insurers to sell these plans that don't comply with the minimum requirements of the healthcare reform law to new consumers. And it's that difference that led to a veto threat from the White House.