Barbara Boxer: “Senators Durbin and Lincoln take this Federal plan and open it up to small businesses with 100 employees down to a…”

“Senators Durbin and Lincoln take this Federal plan and open it up to small businesses with 100 employees down to a single self-employed person. This plan will work because there will be a huge pool set up. Everyone can buy into it from any business in this country with less than 100 employees. It would be a very diverse pool of people. They will be insured. The pricing is going to be very fair and reasonable. The plan will be administered in the same way our Federal benefits are administered. I heard Senator Thune say: That is a government plan. No, it isn't. It is a plan that is administered by the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan, but it is coverage provided by private insurers. Because the administrative costs are kept so low, this is going to be very affordable and will solve the problem. And guess what. This alternative, the Durbin-Lincoln alternative, does not take away the protections States have given all who live in those States. If you are in California, you still get the benefits. By law, you are protected. If you live in Washington State, you will get those benefits. The alternative that the Democrats are behind will cost less. It will protect benefits. It will work beautifully. I say to my colleagues, if it is good enough for you, it ought to be good enough for small businesses and their employees. This bill is a wonderful and practical alternative.…”