Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann: Help! I've lost my health insurance!

By Jason Hoppin
TwinCities.com
March 23, 2010

During a weekly conference call with constituents today, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said she has lost her health insurance as a result of the health care bill signed by President Obama today. She offered it as proof that President Obama's "promise" that no one would lose their current plan under the bill "was not a true promise."

But it's not like she's losing coverage. Under the bill, members of Congress will receive coverage either through a health care plan created by the bill (without the public option, that doesn't exist) or purchased through the health insurance exchange that was created by the bill. So she's not losing coverage, but the federal government is providing Congress with coverage purchased through the exchange.

Here is the relevant language:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are--

(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or
(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).