As the Hire More Heroes bill moves closer to President Obama's desk, an analysis of its cost puts into perspective Congress's generosity for those who have served in the military.

The bill extends an exception to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to employers of ex-military personnel who receive their health coverage through the Veterans' Administration. Because analysts say it could technically reduce the number of employees a company has for purposes of compliance with PPACA, it will reduce revenue to the government.

When the Senate Finance Committee was considering the Senate version of the legislation, its members requested a cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Back came the word: federal revenue could be offset by $858 million, according to the news source The Hill.

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Despite this price tag, the bill is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed by Obama. The House unanimously approved its version in January.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.