Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day A family who buys insurance on the individual market pays nearly 60 percent more in out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and co-payments than a family who gets insurance through work. (Agency for Health Care Research & Quality) | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $46,661,226,883 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope CBO’S ANNUAL BUDGET & ECONOMIC FORECAST Yesterday the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office issued their annual budget and economic forecast predicting major economic trends for the next 10 years. The review was a picture of the American economy’s future without health insurance reform. It shows Medicare and Medicaid growing on average 7 and 6 percent per year, respectively. This rate would exceed economic growth, inflation, and growth of the federal budget. Not only would these programs start to crowd out other priorities in the federal budget, but would ultimately mean higher premium costs for seniors who are already feeling pinched in retirement. It will also jeopardize the Medicare program as the trust fund becomes depleted. Read more from the Center for American Progress about why health insurance reform is important to America’s economic future.
Health Care Headlines While Confident Health Care Will Pass This Year, Democrats Still Search For A Plan
Democratic leaders in Congress voiced resolute optimism on Thursday that they would adopt major health care legislation this year, and they said that doing so was a crucial element of President Obama’s broader agenda to create jobs, revive the economy and reduce federal budget deficits
[New York Times, 1/29/2010]. Read a related article. Democrats Struggle to Move Forward on Healthcare
“Shell-shocked” is the way Democrats kept describing their reaction to last Tuesday's election in Massachusetts.
[U.S. News & World Report, 1/28/2010] High-Ranking House Democrat Predicts Health Bill Approval This Year
Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey spoke with House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., about health reform's prospects. "We're going to get it done this year,” Miller said [Kaiser Health News, 1/29/2010] Overhaul Debate Brings Together Cross-Capitol Moderates
If the healthcare debate of the last year accomplishes nothing else, it might at least have pushed lawmakers to consult with their counterparts across the Capitol earlier and more often. [CongressDaily, 1/29/2010] Little Progress Seen Against Health Insurance Fraud
Two years after the federal government started its latest push to crack down on Medicare fraud, the number of people charged with ripping off health care insurers has barely changed, Justice Department records show. [USA Today, 1/29/2010] U.S. Health Clinics Bearing Increasingly Heavy Load
The recession has slashed incomes across classes. Now, clinic clients include those with formerly healthy incomes. [Dallas Morning News, 1/29/2010] Battling for Health Coverage As Cancer Spreads
Rashidam Shakirova moved from Atlanta to New York in 2008 so she could earn more as a home health-care aide — $9 an hour instead of $7. But she now believes that her new job indirectly took a drastic toll on her health. [New York Times, 1/28/2010] EDITORIAL: Just Do It, Democrats: Health Care Reform Is Within Reach
With all due respect to the voters in Massachusetts, it’s time for Democrats to gather their wits and pass health reform, with or without Republican help. [The Star-Ledger, 1/29/2010] OPINION: We've Come Too Far On Health Care To Stop
By Henry Cisneros
In many ways, 2009 was the year in which the American people got closest to understanding the nuances and merits of health care reform. As the President's State of the Union address implied this week, 2010 is the year to get the job done. [San Antonio Express-News, 1/29/2010] | 