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Health Care Reform appears to be well on its way to becoming a reality in the United States. Following a 60-40 cloture vote in the early morning of December 24th 2009, the United States Senate passed their version of the health care bill bringing health care reform one step closer to becoming law. There are still a few more hurdles to overcome before the health care bill lands on President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

Following passage in the Senate, the health care bill will now go to the congressional conference committee, where the Senate bill must be harmonized with the House’s version of health legislation that was passed in November. However, there are a few differences between the House and Senate bill that needs to be resolved before the President provides his signature. For instance, unlike the House’s health bill, the Senate’s bill does not contain a Public Option. As well, the Senate bill includes a tax on the so called ‘Cadillac’ health insurance plans of which many in the house object. There are also much tougher anti-abortion funding restrictions in the Senate bill.

After passage of the Senate’s health bill, Senate Democratic leaders said they were taking the process day by day. To bring both the Senate and House bill together, members do not normally add anything new to the bill. Both the House and Senate must pass matching versions of the bill.
After the Senate and House representatives come to an agreement on a single health reform bill, each chamber must then approve the bill. The bill will then be sent to President Obama to be signed into law. Because the bill is sharply divided along party lines, it will likely be a contentious time for both Democrats and Republicans. Republicans have promised to continue to try to block passage of the 2009 Health Care Bill. Most of the impending health care reforms will not kick in until 2013, so people should still take the opportunity to compare cheaper insurance rates from different health insurance providers.