Deal will keep federal contributions for insurance when Congress moves to exchanges

Members of the House and Senate and aides are being switched to the online marketplaces set up by the health law.

The New York Times: Deal Keeps U.S. Health Care Contribution For Congress
The Obama administration told Congress on Thursday that it would allow the federal government to continue paying a large share of the cost of health insurance for members of Congress and their aides, averting a problem for many who work on Capitol Hill. However, under the arrangement, lawmakers and many of their aides will have to get coverage through new health insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, being set up in every state (Pear, 8/2).

Politico: Capitol's Obamacare Crisis Resolved
Lawmakers and staff can breathe easy -; their health care tab is not going to soar next year. The Office of Personnel Management, under heavy pressure from Capitol Hill, will issue a ruling that says the government can continue to make a contribution to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides, according to several Hill sources (Bresnahan and Sherman, 8/2).

Fox News: Lawmakers, Aides To Get ObamaCare Exemption
Starting in 2014, all 100 U.S. senators, 435 representatives in the House and their aides will have to get their health insurance through ObamaCare's newly formed state exchanges. But they won't see a spike in their health care costs under a deal struck before the August recess.  Congressional leadership aides tell Fox News a deal has been reached with the Office of Personnel Management, which will allow the government to continue to make employer contributions to the health plans of lawmakers and congressional staffers. The OPM, which oversees the compensation system for the federal civilian workforce, is expected to issue guidance next week to spell out a way to fix the issue (8/2).

Bloomberg: U.S. To Keep Health Premium Subsidy For Lawmakers, Staff
The U.S. government will keep paying the medical-insurance premium subsidy for members of Congress and thousands of legislative branch employees who starting next year will be forced off the federal civilian benefits plan by the 2010 health-care law.  The Office of Personnel Management has told Congress that premium subsidy payments would continue, according to two Senate aides who asked not to be identified discussing the matter (Rowley, 8/2).