House lawmakers on Monday approved a revamped multibillion-dollar coronavirus relief package aimed at softening the blow many Americans will feel as stores shutter, people stay indoors and the stock market plummets as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The legislation would require all testing costs to be covered under any private insurance plan and through government-funded plans like Medicare and Medicaid. The bill also includes $1 billion to the Disaster Medical System to cover costs for people without medical insurance, $82 million to the Defense Department, $64 million to the Indian Health Service and $60 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Large companies -- like McDonalds, for example -- would also be exempt, but Pelosi would like those companies to pay out of their own pockets. Health care worker protectionsDoctors, nurses and other health care workers are on the frontlines of battling the coronavirus and the bill wants to make sure that they are protected.

Source: Fox News March 17, 2020 21:45 UTC