Health insurance

Rate of Underinsured Triples for Middle and Higher Income Families; Underinsured Go Without Needed Care and Face Medical Debt

New York, NY, June 10, 2008—The number of underinsured adults—those with health insurance all year, but also very high medical expenses relative to their incomes—rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007, from 16 million to more than 25 million, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study released today as a Health Affairs Web Exclusive.

Middle and higher income families were hit the hardest by the steep increase: underinsured rates nearly tripled for those with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is an annual income of $40,000 or higher for a family.    » read more »

Of All Age Groups, 19-to-29-Year-Olds Most Likely to Be Uninsured

May 30, 2008 -- New York — The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006—an increase from 13.3 million in 2005—making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance.

According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.    » read more »

Refund Points to Need for Insurance Law Reform

May 29, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Insurance Department Superintendent Eric Dinallo today announced that Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. has agreed to refund $50 million to approximately 37,000 small businesses in New York City, Long Island and the northern suburbs for overcharging on health insurance policies in 2006.

The refund highlights the need for legislation to reinstate the Insurance Department’s authority to approve rate increases before they go into effect, something the Insurance Department is pursuing this legislative session.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that by a vote of 75-22, the US Senate passed the domestic funding portion of the emergency supplemental bill that included an amendment to extend the current one year moratorium on a Medicaid rule regarding public health care providers that would have cut up to $255 million a year in federal funding to Illinois’ Medicaid program, including $179 million to Cook County.

This is the second time Durbin was able to extend the moratorium. The extension of the moratorium is until April 1, 2009 and was passed with a veto proof majority.    » read more »

Feingold welcomes Collins’ support for effort to cover the uninsured

May 22, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) welcomed the support of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for the State-Based Health Care Reform Act, a state-based approach to ensure all Americans receive health care coverage.

Additional support for the bill, which Feingold authored with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, coincides with a Badger Poll conducted by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center that finds a majority of Wisconsinites think states would do a better job reforming the health care system rather than the federal government.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- MIAMI – Florida Governor Charlie Crist continued a weeklong series of health care bill signings today by signing Senate Bill 2534, providing affordable health insurance options to Florida’s 3.8 million uninsured individuals. The Governor’s Cover Florida plan will allow the State of Florida to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable health coverage for uninsured Floridians ages 19 to 64. Small businesses will also be able to offer employees a variety of health care plans and services through a centralized clearinghouse. He signed the bill while visiting the Ryder Trauma Center in Miami.    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- Trenton - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today praised New Jersey's congressional delegation for its leadership for a stronger SCHIP program on behalf of the state's uninsured children. New Jersey's successful Family Care program currently covers 121,815 children.

I'm proud to say our Democratic congressional delegation has been out in front on this issue, and Congressman Pallone has led the charge in the House by giving a voice to the disadvantaged children of New Jersey," said Governor Corzine. "Providing adequate healthcare programs really are preventative medicine because they provide a less burdensome impact on hospital emergency rooms as well as on overall state budgets."    » read more »

Efforts continue to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

April 22, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Backed by rulings on Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today sent a letter to the Bush administration urging a withdrawal of a federal directive that prohibits Washington, and other states, from expanding access to health care coverage for tens of thousands of children.

A protester against George W. Bush's attempts to limit children's health insurance: Photo by socaltimes (CC)    » read more »

Urges Illinois Congressional delegation to vote to halt implementation; joins other governors in support of legal challenge to Bush rules

April 23, 2008 -- Families USA report estimates Bush Medicaid rules would cost Illinois $487 million in first year alone in addition to job loss and economic decline

CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today sent a letter urging members of the Illinois Congressional delegation to support a moratorium on the Bush Administration’s proposed changes to the Medicaid program when the issue comes up for a vote in the U.S. House later today.    » read more »

04/23/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008," which will delay for one year the implementation of numerous federal Medicaid regulations:

"I applaud the House of Representatives for voting on a bipartisan basis to protect medical services for vulnerable Californians and reimbursements to safety net and teaching hospitals, local governments, school districts, and numerous state agencies.    » read more »

Congratulates House for Proposing, Passing ABC Plan; Urges Senate to Act Quickly

March 18, 2008 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today praised the House of Representatives for taking an important first step in passing its Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care (PA ABC) plan, and he urged the Senate to immediately consider the proposal.

PA ABC would provide access to health care for many of Pennsylvania’s uninsured while continuing to help physicians pay their medical malpractice insurance premiums. It would also eliminate the Mcare Fund, return all malpractice coverage to the private market, and pay off Mcare’s unfunded liability.    » read more »

04/17/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after his Administration's Department of Managed Health Care announced that coverage would be reinstated for many Californians after an investigation into rescission practices by health care insurers:

"It's outrageous that innocent patients have to live in fear of losing their health care coverage. I look forward to working with my partners in the Legislature to ensure this egregious practice is stopped.

My comprehensive health care proposal provided the best solution to this problem: requiring an individual mandate and guaranteed issue so that no Californian is denied coverage due to age or preexisting medical conditions."

Source: California Governor

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today called on Linda Springer, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to respond to reports that certain health care plans are charging unnecessarily high copayments for prescription drugs. A recent report in the New York Times indicated that many health care plan participants, including federal government employees, are facing copayments as high as 20-33 percent of the cost of drugs.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed LD 2247, An Act to Continue Maine’s Leadership in Covering the Uninsured. The bill seeks to contain rising costs of insurance and will enable DirigoChoice to expand enrollment after the bill becomes law.    » read more »

04/16/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on a bipartisan basis, voted to delay the implementation of seven major Medicaid regulations:

"I have worked with members of California's Congressional Delegation and governors from across the nation in calling for a suspension in these rules to allow a more thorough review by Congress.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Photo courtesy California Governor's office

If these rules move forward as envisioned, more than $12 billion in federal Medicaid payments to California would be at risk over the next five years.    » read more »