Category Archives: Health In Politics

Part of The Affordable Care Act Based on Republican Principles?

Published: November 12, 2010 also in Health Reform

Many of the Republicans who won last week's mid-term election have stressed that one thing many of then want to do is repeal much, or all, of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. One thing I wasn't aware of -- and one isn't sure if Republicans are either, honestly -- is that much of the Affordable Care Act is based on a history of conservative support. This is detailed in an article entitled, "Health official: 'Obamacare' was once 'Romneycare'" from The Washington Post, in which Joel Ario -- of the Office of Insurance Exchanges in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- says "You could say Obamacare was Romneycare before it was Obamacare."

Health Insurance Denails Have Risen by Half

Published: October 15, 2010 also in Health Reform

One of the things that the Affordable Care Act tries to curb is the -- in this author's opinion -- heinous practice by insurance companies to either deny coverage, claims or admittance from people with pre-existing health conditions. You know, the folks who actually need the health care they're paying coverage for. The Affordable Care Act would make this practice illegal once it takes effect in 2014, which would mean a lot more people buying health insurance. I bring this up because of this week's article, a poignant one on MSNBC, entitled, "Health insurance claim denials rose by half in recent years".

Michigan Judge Declares Affordable Care Act is Constitutional

Published: October 8, 2010 also in Health Reform

Many states have issues challenges to the recently-passed Affordable Care Act, mostly due to the portion of the bill that mandates the purchase of health insurance for millions of Americans. Over a dozen states have pending court cases in the coming months trying to declare the Affordable Care unconstitutional so they don't have to take part in things such as state-mandated health insurance exchange, for example. Well, according to a story in the New York Times entitled, "Judge Rules Health Law Is Constitutional", one judge in Michigan has declared the Affordable Care Act constitutional, which might set a precedent for other lawsuits in other states.

Parts of the Affordable Health Care Act Take Effect

Published: September 24, 2010 also in Health Reform

Earlier this week, several provisions of the Affordable Care Act took effect, all of them meant to help as customer safeguards against practices by health insurance companies that, for years, many have found somewhat insidious. In an article from U.S. News and World Report entitled, "8 Immediate Cost Benefits of Health Care Reform", they list in detail several of these benefits, many of which are very beneficial to customers. The first is that health insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, and covers minors under nineteen years old. While coverage might be expensive, it will at least be available.

Insurance Commissioners Try to Define What Constitutes Medical Care

Published: August 20, 2010 also in Health Reform

In a follow up to last week's story on a gathering of Insurance Commissioners meeting in Seattle to determine what constitutes "medical care," the same media outlet as last time, The Palm Beach Post, has a story entitled, "Patients win first round: Define health care costs with emphasis on care, not profit." The commissioners filled out the guidelines in the form of "blanks," which are documents that insurers must file listing all of their expenses so the government can determine the companies' medical loss ratio. If you recall, the MLR is the portion of money that goes to patient care rather than administrative costs and salaries.

Repealing Health Care Reform Disastrous in Terms of Administrative Costs

Published: August 6, 2010 also in Health Insurance Costs, Health Reform

Opponents to the recent health care reform are getting more and more vocal, especially given the recent vote in Missouri in which their voters rejected the reforms. However, in an article from the Center for American Progress entitled, "Repealing Health Reform Would Mean Billions More in Administrative Costs", they try to remind opponents as to one of the other big facets of the health care reform bill...efficiency.

Health Insurance Appeals Getting an Overhaul

Published: July 23, 2010 also in Health Reform

Recently, it was announced that the Obama administration is changing and improving the way customers appeal to their health insurance companies when they’re denied a claim or when their health insurance coverage gets canceled. According to an article in the Associated Press entitled, “Feds move to improve health insurance appeals,” the legislation will start in 2011, to give time to insurance companies so they can deal with its complexities.

A New Plan to Make Health Care Even More Accessible?

Published: July 16, 2010 also in Health Reform

A new piece of legislation called The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) is being touted as bringing even more people access to health insurance and health care by 2019, according to an article entitled "Hijacked: Stolen Health Reform III: How Much Will Access to Care Be Expanded?" in The Huffington Post.

California Insurer Rate Hikes to be Scrutinized by Analysts

Published: June 18, 2010 also in Health Insurance Costs

It's been big news here for a while now that several companies such as Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna have been proposing massive rate hikes for a long time, which has come under scrutiny of customers, legislators and heck, even the President. Well, in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled, "Health insurance rates will get outside look," state health regulators will hire third-party analysts to review the rate increases.

COBRA Subsidies Coming to an End Soon?

Published: June 9, 2010 also in General Health Insurance

COBRA, if you are unaware, is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act which was created in 1986, and is a government run health insurance plan for people who have recently lost their jobs. COBRA is a pretty expensive health care coverage plan, but that changed back in 2009 when Congress passed a stimulus bill that subsidized sixty-five percent of the costs of COBRA, making it much more affordable for nearly everyone who needed it. Sadly, that subsidy might be ending soon.