House, Senate approve health insurance bill

AUGUSTA – The Maine House and Senate have approved a bill to improve legislators’ health insurance coverage.

The bill sponsored by Rep. John Buck, R-Yarmouth, would allow legislators who have served eight years at any time in their lives to have their health care paid by taxpayers at age 62.

The bill passed both chambers without a roll call.

Buck, who is 59, said he would benefit from the bill. He said he introduced it because lawmakers expressed concern about missing out on benefits because of term limits.

The only way lawmakers can now get taxpayer-paid health care at retirement is if they are in office when they turn 62.