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Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News From Medical News Today
Latest Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News From Medical News Today.
- Majority Of California Voters Supports Health Care Overhaul Legislation
Sixty-four percent of California registered voters support health care legislation proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D), according to a Field Poll released Thursday, the [click link for full article] - Recent Op-Ed Highlights Need To Pass Bill To Allow U.S. Residents To Purchase Health Insurance In Any State, Letter Says
A Dec. 12 Wall Street Journal opinion piece written by Merrill Matthews, executive director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, highlights the "tragedy of state governments forbidding citizens from exercising the basic right to buy health insurance from other states," John Graham, director of health care studies at the [click link for full article] - Democratic Presidential Candidate Obama Talks With New Hampshire Voters About Problems With Health Care Costs, Other Issues
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Wednesday at The Common Man restaurant in Concord, N.H., assembled six New Hampshire voters who told their stories about problems with health care costs and other issues, The Politico reports (Budoff Brown, The Politico, 12/20). [click link for full article] - Gov. Schwarzenegger Says Health Care Reforms Will Help Businesses
California's health premiums have risen faster than anywhere else in the United States. The spiraling health care costs, according to Schwarzenegger, undermine Californian companies' competitive advantage. Gov. Schwarzenegger said "Currently, businesses pay $15 billion in hidden taxes to cover the uninsured. Everyone pays more in premiums, co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses. Our plan contains costs by eliminating the hidden tax. [click link for full article] - Congress Should Pass Bill To Allow U.S. Residents To Purchase Health Insurance In Any State, Opinion Piece States
The Health Care Choice Act, which Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) plans to reintroduce on Wednesday, would allow U.S. residents to purchase health insurance in any state to "create a competitive, 50-state market for health insurance, likely making it cheaper," Merrill Mathews, executive director of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance and a resident scholar with the [click link for full article] - Parents Blame Cigna For Transplant Daughter's Death, Despite Reversed Decision
Nataline Sarkisyan, in California, needed a liver transplant in order to continue surviving her three-year battle against leukemia. The insurance company eventually agreed to cover her transplant, but not in time to save her life - Nataline died on Thursday, 20th December. Her parents say that Nataline would still be alive today if the insurance company had not taken so long to approve her transplant. [click link for full article] - AHIP Releases Individual Market Guarantee Access Proposal, Announces Support For Third Party Review Of Rescission Decisions
One year ago America's Health Insurance Plans' (AHIP) Board of Directors advanced a proposal to provide universal coverage. Today, the Board released a proposal to guarantee access to health care coverage in the individual market and announced support for third party review of rescission decisions and their commitment to limiting pre-existing condition exclusions. [click link for full article] - New AHIP Survey Finds Individual Health Care Coverage Accessible And Affordable
A comprehensive survey of the individual health insurance market released by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) found that health care coverage is more accessible and affordable then is widely known. The survey found that premiums are affordable, most who applied were offered coverage, and that consumers have access to a wide variety of benefit options to meet their individual needs. In addition, health savings accounts (HSAs) continue to be a popular coverage option among consumers. [click link for full article] - Uninsured Cancer Patients Almost Twice As Likely To Die Within Five Years As Those With Private Health Insurance, Study Finds
Cancer patients who have no health insurance are 1.6 times as likely to die within five years as those with private coverage, according to a study conducted by the American Cancer Society, AP/Long Island Newsday reports. [click link for full article] - New Mexico State Officials Announce Lower Cost Projections For Health Care Proposal
New Mexico Human Services Secretary Pam Hyde on Monday presented state legislators with "drastically reduced" cost estimates of a universal health coverage plan introduced by Gov. Bill Richardson (D), the [click link for full article] - New Jersey Governor Announces Low-Cost Health Coverage For Children In Middle-Income Families
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) on Wednesday announced an agreement with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey that will allow families with incomes greater than 350% of the federal poverty level to purchase health insurance for their children at significantly lower rates, the New York Times reports. [click link for full article] - Republicans Hope Health Care Action Can Help Gain Congressional Seats In 2008 Elections
Senior Senate Republicans "finessing their election-year message" are calling on the Senate Republican Conference to stress health care issues to help win over independent voters in their attempt to regain a majority in 2008, The Hill reports. Sen. [click link for full article] - Insurance Status Linked To Cancer Outcomes
A new report from the American Cancer Society finds substantial evidence that lack of adequate health insurance coverage is associated with less access to care and poorer outcomes for cancer patients. The report finds the uninsured are less likely to receive recommended cancer screening tests, are more likely to be diagnosed with later stage disease, and have lower survival rates than those with private insurance for several cancers. [click link for full article] - States' Future Pension, Health Care Liability For Employees Totals $2.73T, Some Is Unfunded, According To Analysis
Nearly half of states have not adequately funded their pension and retiree health care obligations, which will total $2.7 trillion over the next 30 years, according to a study released on Wednesday by the Pew Center on the States, part of the Pew Charitable Trusts, the [click link for full article] - Health Insurance Industry To Propose Steps To Make It Easier For Individuals To Obtain Coverage, Including Those With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
America's Health Insurance Plans on Wednesday will present a proposal that is intended to increase access for people seeking to purchase health insurance on the individual market, including those who previously have been denied coverage because of health issues, the New York Times reports. [click link for full article] - Presidential Candidates Address Health Care Issues During Campaign Appearances
Summaries of several recent developments in the presidential campaign related to health care appear below.Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.): Clinton on Tuesday during an appearance at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago said that as president she would increase regulations on health insurers, the [click link for full article] - Eight Ways To Make Holiday Health Insurance Shopping Easy, USA
Holiday shoppers aren't just going to the mall this year. Millions are also going online to look for health insurance. There are many reasons why you may have "health insurance" on your holiday list this year. Early retirement. Between jobs. Going out on your own. Graduation from college. If you're one of the estimated 47 million Americans without a health plan, gohealthinsurance.com offers the following eight simple tips to help you choose the right oneâ?¦ 1. [click link for full article] - Health Care Savings, Coverage For All Could Lower Spending $1.5 Trillion Over 10 Years
Guaranteed health insurance for all combined with several federal policy options to achieve health care system savings could result in $1.5 trillion in reduced spending over 10 years, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report prepared by Fund staff and the Lewin Group for study by the Fund'