On October 13, 2009, the US Senate Finance Committee approved the America's Healthy Future Act. The law was sponsored by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and would have required most citizens to acquire health insurance, provided tax breaks on health insurance to low-income families purchased health insurance, and prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions. The law did not contain a controversial public option provision, which would have allowed citizens to purchase health insurance from the government. The America's Health Future Act was one of five health reform bills approved by House and Senate committees before Congress passed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010.

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