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Health Insurance News
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 One of the main drivers of the push for healthcare reform is the soaring cost of health insurance. As affordable health insurance becomes harder to find, more people are deciding that the current system needs fixing. Some blame the higher cost of premiums on private insurers' profit margins or increasing obesity rates in America. These factors certainly play a part; however, the primary explanation could be an expansion of the services health insurance plans cover. An increasing number of insurance companies now cover alternative medicine. Alternative treatments include herbs, acupuncture, and chiropractic. Insurers claim that they are simply responding to consumer demand, but is their coverage of such largely unproven treatments increasing healthcare costs for everyone?
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Healthcare Reform
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The Republican Party has spent the past several months serving as vocal opposition to the healthcare reform bills supported by the Barack Obama administration and Democratic members of Congress. During that time, they have seen success in influencing public opinion. However, many were frustrated that Republicans hadn't offered their own plan. Surely they didn't believe that the health insurance system in the U.S. is perfect the way it is? Well, the wait is over. Senate Minority Leader John Boehner has acknowledged the public's demand for an alternative with the debut of the GOP's healthcare reform bill. Obviously, a party that has disagreements with most parts of the Democrats' bills in the House of Representatives and Senate has written a significantly different bill. How exactly are the proposals different?
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Health Insurance News
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For 35 million American seniors who are direct beneficiaries of our government-run health care program, Medicare, it's crunch time.
As New York Times reporter, Walecia Konrad reports today, employees who are still fortunate enough to have group health insurance coverage from their employer (even though their plan options are shrinking along with the U.S. workforce), Medicare recipients will have the opposite problem in a few weeks— a potentially overwhelming and confusing list of choices. They may need to sort through dozens -- even hundreds -- of plans governing everything from diabetic supplies and home medical devices to prescription drugs and physical exams during the annual enrollment period, which starts on November 15.
Happy New Year!...Now Open Your Wallet.
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Healthcare Reform
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 The cost of health insurance has rocketed over the years. Many have cited the increased the use of health care services as a reason. As a result, any form of healthcare reform must reduce spending. Some people fear that a public option run by the government would lead to rationed care and negatively impact Americans' health. However, there are other ways to make health insurance less costly. Consumer-directed health care, often likened to high-deductible health plans, would control expenses by putting them in patients' own hands. Part of the reason healthcare is so expensive is because consumers are unaware of how much services actually cost. The North Bay Business Journal's Lary Kirchenbauer suggests that consumer-directed healthcare is a main part of the solution. Individuals and families already bargain shop to find the best deals on over-the-counter medical supplies like Tylenol and bandages, so expanding our out-of-pocket spending might be a way to fix our current system.
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Healthcare Reform
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The Democratic party has made comprehensive healthcare reform its top priority this year. A majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives are backing Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposal. One of its provisions is the creation of a government-run insurance plan, otherwise known as a public option, to compete with private insurers. A similar program is included in the Senate's reform bill. While the public option is supported by liberal Democrats, some conservative Democrats have concerns. Among other things, they are worried that pushing reform through will lead to the Democrats losing control of Congress. Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee chairman and adviser to President George W. Bush, has also expressed this view. Midterm elections are set for 2010, and the majority party typically loses seats in those years. The hopes of Democratic congresspersons are riding on the success of healthcare reform. More importantly, their chances rest on convincing the public that they have the best plan to fix the crisis. Most Americans seem to agree that the current system needs changing, but are skeptical of how Democrats propose to do so.
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