A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to end health insurance portability for Members of Congress and eliminate continued coverage for departing Members of Congress until health insurance portability for other United States citizens is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 13, 1996

Amends Federal law to require that a contract for a health insurance plan offered to a Member of Congress or a former Member of Congress shall provide that a carrier may: (1) include preexisting condition exclusions and impose a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to treatment based on the fact that the condition existed prior to enrollment; (2) exclude an individual from enrollment due to health status or preexisting condition; or (3) refuse to renew the health plan of an individual due to health status or preexisting condition. Eliminates coverage for departing Members of Congress. Repeals all of the above on and after the date on which a statute has been enacted that: (1) makes health coverage for U.S. citizens portable by limiting exclusions for preexisting conditions; (2) guarantees availability of health insurance to U.S. citizens; and (3) guarantees renewability of health insurance coverage to employers and individuals.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA] · D–IA

Committees

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 13, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Jun 13, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6237)
Jun 13, 1996
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jun 13, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1876 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1876, 104th Congress: A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to end health insurance portability for Members of Congress and eliminate continued coverage for departing Members of Congress until health insurance portability for other United States citizens is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1876

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-06-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1876/BILLS-104s1876is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1876 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1876 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1876, 104th Congress: A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to end health insurance portability for Members of Congress and eliminate continued coverage for departing Members of Congress until health insurance portability for other United States citizens is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1876

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-06-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1876/BILLS-104s1876is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1876 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1876 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1876, 104th Congress: A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to end health insurance portability for Members of Congress and eliminate continued coverage for departing Members of Congress until health insurance portability for other United States citizens is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1876

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-06-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1876/BILLS-104s1876is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1876 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1876 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1876, 104th Congress: A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to end health insurance portability for Members of Congress and eliminate continued coverage for departing Members of Congress until health insurance portability for other United States citizens is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1876

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-06-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1876/BILLS-104s1876is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1876 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.