U.S. House votes to limit eligibility under healthcare law

U.S. House votes to limit eligibility under healthcare law

U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure that would keep many middle-class Americans from participating in some health programs under the Obama administration's healthcare law.

The House voted 262-157 to approve the legislation, which has gained support from the White House. It has to be approved by the Senate before going to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The measure would limit eligibility for participation in the healthcare law by requiring Social Security benefits to be counted as income when determining whether an applicant's income level is qualified for Medicaid and other health programs.

The change means that many middle-income Americans would be kept out of the programs, most of which are designed to help low- income people gain health insurance. As many as one million people would be affected by the change, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Republicans have long been criticizing the healthcare law, Obama's signature legislative achievement, as too generous as it broadens coverage of Medicaid to include many Americans who are not really in need.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

English.news.cn   2011-10-28 06:41:40 FeedbackPrintRSS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua)