Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day If you work for a small business or have an individual policy, more than 26 cents of every dollar of your health insurance premium goes for administrative costs, things like executive compensation, bonuses, marketing, underwriting, and paperwork. (Congressional Budget Office) | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $49,881,682,966 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope PRESIDENT HOSTS BIPARTISAN HEALTH MEETING Today lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both houses of Congress, convened at the Blair house to participate in a six and a half hour meeting with the President to discuss health insurance reform. Everyone at the meeting had a chance to speak and the following four topic areas were discussed: Cost Containment; Insurance Reforms; Deficit Reduction; and Expanding Coverage. The meeting was carried live on C-Span and other networks, as well as via webcast.
Health Care Headlines A Third of Young Adults Uninsured In 2008
A third of young U.S. adults -- nearly 13 million people -- had no health insurance coverage in 2008, according to a government report released on Wednesday. [Reuters, 2/24/2010] Fact Check: Obama Has Edge in Debate Over Premiums
When President Barack Obama and a Republican lawmaker sparred Thursday over what might happen to health insurance premiums in an overhauled system, both cited a nonpartisan analysis that looked at that very question. The president gave a fairer summary of what the analysis found.
[Associated Press, 2/25/2010] CNN Poll: Health Care Provisions Popular But Overall Bills Unpopular
Although the overall health care reform bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate are unpopular, many of the provisions in the existing bills are extremely popular, even among Republicans, according to a new national poll. [CNN, 2/24/2010] More Than Healthcare Riding On Thursday's Summit
The healthcare summit that convenes Thursday in Washington has emerged as a high-stakes gambit for President Obama and opposing Republican lawmakers, carrying risks for both sides that could not only alter the outcome of the healthcare debate but also November's midterm elections. [L.A. Times, 2/24/2010] Democrats Looking Beyond Health-Care Summit to Final Talks Within Party
Congressional Democrats are already looking beyond the White House health-care summit, reckoning that Thursday's session will amount to little more than political theater and focusing instead on a final round of intraparty negotiations that are likely to determine the fate of President Obama's top domestic priority. [Washington Post, 2/25/2010] CBC Calls For More Equality In Reform
In twin letters sent to President Barack Obama and top Democratic congressional leaders in advance of today’s White House health-care summit, the Congressional Black Caucus is appealing for tougher efforts to reduce racial disparities in the health system. [Politico, 2/25/2010] Health Executive Defends Premiums
A top health insurance company executive told a Congressional committee on Wednesday that higher premiums were justified by soaring medical costs, and warned that pending legislation could make the problem worse, further driving up costs for young, healthy people. [New York Times, 2/25/2010] House Votes To Strip Health Insurance Companies of Antitrust Exemption
The House voted Wednesday to strip health insurance companies of their exemption from federal antitrust laws, a Democratic measure that could resonate with public concerns about insurers but that has an uncertain future in the Senate. [Washington Post, 2/24/2010] OPINION: On Bipartisan Health Care, a Foundation for Agreement
By Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle
Over the past year, we've had a vigorous national conversation about how to bring down health-care costs for families, hold insurance companies accountable, make health-care affordable for those who don't have it and lower the deficit. [Washington Post, 2/25/2010] EDITORIAL: Reconciliation and Truth
Let’s get a few things straight about reconciliation, the procedure by which Democrats may be able to pass health-care reform by a simple majority. [Washington Post, 2/25/2010] COMMENTARY: How Does Washington Decide What Insurance Is?
By Ezra Klein
The best exchange of the day came moments before the attendees at the Blair House summit broke for lunch. [Washington Post, 2/25/2010] | 