By robinnwlc • 15 years ago

Asking the Big Health Insurers About their Finances Before Enacting Health Reform Seems Right to Me

by Lisa Codispoti, Senior Advisor, 
National Women’s Law Center 

Besides the US Chamber of Commerce, anyone out there feeling at all bad about the US House Energy & Commerce Committee asking large national health insurers about their finances? Certainly not I, especially after what we learned about the Wall Street bail out and big institutions that received billions in federal bailouts who in turn were handing out bonuses and continuing with other corporate spending that certainly raised the eyebrows – and ire- of the American public. Various health reform proposals will no doubt have a financial impact on the insurance industry (ie: by imposing a requirement that all people obtain health insurance and providing subsidies for those who can’t afford it). Representatives Waxman and Stupack have it right: before health reform creates a “bonanza” for the health insurers, let’s at least understand their current spending and business practices. It seems fair to me to ask the health insurers about their profits, salaries and bonuses for employees earning over $500k, how much they’re spending on retreats, etc.

All seems reasonable to me. Of course, the insurers had to rely on the Chamber of Commerce to do their complaining about the request. Give me a break. There are at least a few other things that come to mind about the need for health reform that the Chamber could complain about. Wouldn’t it be nice to hear the Chamber saying they were “deeply troubled” about the burden businesses will face if family health insurance premiums nearly double by 2020 if we do nothing? Or the burden employers face today given the current insurance industry practice of charging employers with more women and/or older workers more for the same insurance coverage?

Cross-posted from NWLC’s blog.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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By Sejal Singh • @Sej_Singh • 7 years ago

It’s Do or Die Time on Trumpcare – Literally

The Senate will vote to strip health care from millions in about 48 hours. This is not a drill.

Yesterday, Senate Republicans voted to proceed to debate on their taxcuts-for-billionaires “healthcare” bill. Does that mean they’ll release a bill on which to have public hearings and town halls? Nope. In Senate parliamentary language, that means they’ve started the process to vote on the bill this week.

What are they voting on, you ask? TBD, because  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell still hasn’t told anyone what is in bill. Will pregnancy be a pre-existing condition again

The Senate will vote to strip health care from millions in about 48 hours. This is not a drill.

Yesterday, Senate Republicans voted to proceed to debate on their Read More

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By Sejal Singh • @Sej_Singh • 7 years ago

Here’s How Many People Could Lose Healthcare To Give Billionaires a Tax Break

According to a stunning estimate from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the GOP “health care bill” gives America’s 400 wealthiest households alone a $33 billion tax break – equivalent to the cost of Medicaid for 725,800 low-income Americans.

Yesterday, following protests across the country, Senate Republicans were forced to delay a vote on the GOP health care bill (also known as the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” or BCRA). According to the nonpartisan number-crunchers at the Congressional Budget Office, 22 million people would lose healthcare coverage under the Senate GOP bill – a loss largely ...

According to a stunning estimate from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the GOP “health care bill” gives America’s 400 wealthiest households alone a $33 billion tax break – ...