Health Insurance Reform Easytoinsureme February 5 2010
FEBRUARY 5, 2010
This Week in Health Care Reform EasyToInsureME FEBRUARY 5 2010
Despite proclaiming to focus on other issues, such as the economy and jobs, President Barack Obama injected new energy into the health care reform debate this week.
On Monday, President Obama held a Q&A session via YouTube in which he responded to questions submitted during his State of the Union address. He commented that “it is my greatest hope” to have health care reform legislation “not just a year from now, but soon.” He also responded to criticisms regarding the lack of transparency around the reform negotiations.
On Tuesday, at a town-hall-style meeting in New Hampshire, President Obama rejected the notion that health care reform was dead, saying “we’ve got to punch it through.” Further, on Wednesday, he met with Senate Democrats reiterating his commitment to reform and encouraging lawmakers to press forward. He also suggested that Republicans play at least some role in negotiating a final bill.
Health Care Reform Negotiations
Democrats Look for Path Forward: Recent statements made by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) are the first concrete signs that Democrats have started working to revive comprehensive health care reform legislation. Rep. Rangel indicated to the media that lawmakers have begun writing a compromise bill based on the legislation passed by the Senate last December. The bill will incorporate changes agreed upon last month by White House negotiators and members of the House and Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) did not commit to a timeline for reform, but hopes that Democrats can agree to a path forward by next week. So far, he has been unable to identify compromise language that will win the needed 51 Senate votes.
At the same time, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated that the House would vote on a small piece of the overall health care reform package next week. The proposed bill would overturn the insurance industry’s exemption from federal antitrust laws. The Senate version of health care reform did not include this measure because Sen. Reid could not secure the 60 votes needed to include it; however, Sen. Reid indicated the Senate would reconsider the measure.
Additional Activities
President Obama’s Budget Assumes Health Care Reform: On Monday, White House officials released a proposed $3.8 trillion 2011 budget including several measures aimed at improving health care:
· Hiring more fraud detectives to root out waste in Medicare and Medicaid
· Providing $25.5 billion to help state Medicaid programs swelling with enrollment due to unemployment
· Eliminating Congressional earmarks for building hospitals and other facilities, including $10 million for Alaska and $35 million for Mississippi
· Initiating or increasing funds for the following research projects:
o quality improvements for seniors with chronic conditions
o effective medical treatments for the costliest conditions
o expeditious ways to adopt electronic medical records
o medical fields such as genetic medicine that may provide breakthrough treatments.
Further, the budget assumes that some form of health care reform legislation will pass Congress. It includes a “reserve fund for health care reform” totaling $634 billion as a “down payment” for the legislation and also assumes that the reform effort will generate $150 billion in savings over 10 years.
States Begin Initiatives to Expand Coverage: With the fate of national health care reform in question, state legislators are pushing their own bills to expand coverage. Last Thursday, California’s State Senate passed a measure to create a government-run health care system, ignoring a veto threat from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The measure is now with the State Assembly. Missouri legislators have introduced a similar bill to create a government-run plan whereas lawmakers in other states, including Virginia and New Jersey, are working to tweak existing state programs to expand coverage. Tight budgets in all of those states may hinder these efforts.
Virginia Senate Says No to Individual Mandates: On Monday, Virginia’s Democratic-controlled State Senate passed measures that would make it illegal to enforce an individual health care mandate. This decision comes in direct conflict with the House and the Senate health care reform bills, both of which require all individuals to purchase health insurance.
Public Opinion
Majority of Americans Doubt Passage of Health Care Reform, but Growing Optimism: A survey released by the Pew Research Center on Wednesday shows growing optimism around the passage of health care reform. While the poll indicates that the majority of Americans (60 percent) do not believe health care reform legislation will pass this year, the figure is down from the 67 percent who said – just after a special Senate election was held last month in Massachusetts – that such legislation would not pass.
Poll Indicates Damage Done On Health Care Reform: A poll released Tuesday by Public Policy Polling shows that Republicans currently have the advantage over Democrats in the ballot races for Congress, regardless of the final outcome of health care reform. In general, the poll shows that 43 percent of voters surveyed would vote for a Republican, whereas 40 percent would vote for a Democrat. When asked about the implications of the health care overhaul.
* If health care reform passes, 45 percent would likely vote Republican and 40 percent would likely vote Democrat.
* If health care reform does not pass, 43 percent would likely vote Republican and 38 percent would likely vote Democrat.
The poll also shows that 36 percent of respondents support the President’s health care reform effort, while 51 percent oppose it.
Looking Ahead
Currently there is no timeline for the development of a comprehensive health care reform package. However, Speaker Pelosi is moving forward with smaller pieces of the bill, starting next week with the repeal of the antitrust exemption for insurance companies.
Watch the video related to health
Nearly half the US population turns to complementary, alternative and integrative practices to maintain or improve their health. Dr. Michael Rabow explores the role of spirituality in health. Series: “UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public” [11/2007] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 13028]
Help answer the question about health
What is more just: rationing health care based upon bureaucratic decisions or ability to pay?Both socialzed and free market health care ration health care.
In socialized health care, care is rationed based upon bureaucratic decisions.
In "free market" health care, care is rationed based upon the ability of the person to pay.
Which is more just?
Which is more just for a child?
# 37!
@Xaymot i start with the top slice, i make my way to the horse-meat and or goat cheese, i finish it off in grand fashion with nothing other but the bottom slice.
Yes hypertension may lead to strokes.Jogging is one of the good cardiovascular exercise.
http://www.everyonebenefits.com/12851363 this is a great ste for someone looking for low cost health programs.
@Jazza12319 beats repeat brethren, thats what makes it a beat.. would you prefer some random hits here and there? HEALTH is also one of those bands (not one guy) that you should see live and their electrical prowess (although I bet the guitarist from the Mae Shi built their vocal thingy) with their homemade instruments.. Very progressive. What would you consider progressive? I am very curious..
Health insurance is the one that pays for your medical expenses should you incur one. While health care program is designed for the continuity better living despite health disability.. Long Term Health Care Program is best be planned ahead.
If you find it suitable for you, then it's fine. Otherwise, seek for a medical/legal health expert for a better advise.
@birinbirinbirin lulz
Well, if she's 40 and perfectly healthy, it's going to cost her about $500 a month to have a low/no deductible plan that covers checkups.
You BUY it on a month to month basis. If you want low monthly payments, you have to cut the coverage – like take a $10,000 deductible. Or higher. That would cut payments down to maybe $200 a month or less.
The older she is, the less healthy she is, the more it costs.
Your best bet, is to find a local, independent agent, who can help you balance cost with coverage.
yes………………………..!
haha rocket man!
@birinbirinbirin lulz
Yes. If you have unlimited resources as an American you have the best health care in the world. If you are an ordinary citizen you simply don't. Even the average health care plan generally does not cover the basics like European systems do. All too often Americans find out just how under insured they are when sickness strikes.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jun/How-Many-Are-Underinsured–Trends-Among-U-S–Adults–2003-and-2007.aspx
That's important because when those people are lucky enough to stay healthy they will never see a problem whatsoever just as their fellow countrymen were just fine with their coverage before tradgedy happened.
http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/12538706/detail.html
http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/your_story/my-insurance-company-denied-my-doctors-prescription
http://www.rhonawaxman.com/blog/insurance-company-medical-exam-denied-me-surgery.html
This is the same thing as with the standard of living. Americans have a higher income on average than Americans but more detailed data shows it's the top 1 percent income earners that's responsible for the whole difference. Middle clas an poor Americans are much worse of than their European counterparts
That's ultimately what it is about
@Jazza12319 beats repeat brethren, thats what makes it a beat.. would you prefer some random hits here and there? HEALTH is also one of those bands (not one guy) that you should see live and their electrical prowess (although I bet the guitarist from the Mae Shi built their vocal thingy) with their homemade instruments.. Very progressive. What would you consider progressive? I am very curious..
The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation is a research think tank. They have all kinds of references to interesting research around health care and health reform. With a little digging, you may be able to contact some of the researchers.
WebMD is another useful source for anything and everything health care.
Centers for disease control and prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
National Vital statistics system: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss
@Jazza12319
Yeah person who says repeating beats isn’t progressive… thats called a beat. if it doesn’t repeat, you don’t move or rather it doesn’t move you. HEALTH is the new Can
i htought the main reason of living in a society was to help each other out, am i wrong?
A. Public health looks at everyone from all over. We (I'm an epidemiologist) are concerned with things that may be coming down the pike and hit all of us (like bird flu, etc.). Community health mostly involves doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that tailor interventions to a particular community's needs, and they generally don't plan out for "the bigger picture", although they do a heck a job in their locales, since they know it better.