Monday, February 28, 2011
Military Health Care Costs Skyrocketing in 2011
Governer's Health Care Budgets To Take A Hit Due To Medicaid
Obama's Concession On Health Care?
President Obama on 28th Feb offered to let some states choose when opting for his big health-care reform overhaul and design their own health systems, as long as they meet the overall goals of the national health insurance plan.
That sounds like a big deal. Is President giving us a relief here? After all, about half the United states already have sued to overturn the system critics call Obamacare. Many of them may try to replace Washingtons approach with health-care reforms designed closer to home.
The short answer is yes. However, the longer answer is yes, but..." What Obama called for Monday is not so much a change in the existing law as an acceleration of something that was going to happen already and was long told by his critics.
Last years health insurance law already allows states to propose their own frameworks for care, beginning in 2017. Obama, in a speech to the N.G.A, said that he would support changing the health insurance law to allow that to happen three years earl.
Last year’s health-care reform law already allows states to propose their own frameworks for health care, beginning in 2017. However the Bipartisan Bill is still waiting its fate in the Senate.
“I think that’s a reasonable proposal. I support it,” said Obama. “It will give you flexibility more quickly, while still guaranteeing the American people reform.”
The White House has long said the president is open to changes that can make the law better, and it may be betting that with this step, Obama will appear to be taking a step toward his opponents’ position.
Indeed, the little-noticed opt-out provision could allow states to get away from the provision that many insist is unconstitutional: the health-care law’s insistence that all Americans obtain health-insurance coverage.
For instance, a state could decide that it would rather link tax credits for small businesses with tax credits for lower-income individuals in an attempt to cover as many people as would the health reforms designed by Washington. Or it could choose automatic enrollment in health insurance, according to a Monday post on the White House Blog by Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services.
“State reforms could take many forms,” writes Secretary Sebelius.
The catch is that these reforms would have to provide coverage at least as comprehensive as the policies that will be offered through the exchange insurance marketplaces set up by Obama’s health law. They could not cover fewer people than the federal approach. Nor can a state's plans add to the federal deficit, according to Sebelius.
One unintended consequence of Obama’s move on Monday may be to further confuse a US public already thoroughly flummoxed by the state of America’s health insurance reform debate.
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 22 percent of US voters believe Obama’s health-care law has already been repealed by newly empowered Republican lawmakers. (It hasn’t: The House voted to repeal it, but the Senate did not. Obama would veto that anyway.) Another 26 percent aren’t sure whether the law has been repealed.
A slim majority of respondents – 52 percent – said correctly that the federal health reforms remain the law of the land.
Why Comparing Companies Leads To The Best In Health Insurance Quotes
One of the best ways to find a good health insurance coverage is to compare different health insurance companies. The internet has made it extremely easy to find affordable health insurance quotes, compare these quotes and to find an insurance company that is reliable and trustworthy.
There was a time when comparing health insurance companies was a tedious task. You would have to speak to an insurance agent or different insurance companies, get information about quotes and benefits, and then compare the data. Now, in order to compare health insurance coverage costs and benefits, all you have to do is visit one of the many websites that offer this type of service.
There are several factors that you should consider when comparing health insurance companies. It is important to check the financial stability of health insurance companies. This way you can be assured that when you file a claim, the health insurance company would honor the claim.
Customer service is one of those things that many people tend to overlook, but it is extremely important. It is imperative that you look for a health insurance company that treats its customers like kings and provides good customer service. There are many websites that provide customer service ratings of all the large health insurance companies. Any company with a rating of three or better is a good choice.
You can verify the number of complaints filed against a health insurance company by visiting your state's Department of Insurance website. Here you will be able to find a list of all the complaints filed by customers. You could also check with your friends and relatives to learn more about a particular company.
While comparing health insurance companies, you must also find out everything you can about the benefits that these companies offer. These include coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, prescription coverage, coverage of visits to the doctor, deductible and out-of-pocket expenses, and so on.
Another thing to compare is the monthly premium that you will be expected to pay. By comparing health insurance quotes, it is possible to find a policy that is inexpensive. You even have the choice of speaking to the insurance companies directly and they might be willing to give you a discount.
The best way to find a good health insurance coverage is to compare health insurance companies and the benefits that they offer. By checking the financial stability, complaint ratings and customer service ratings, it is possible to find a health insurance company that is both reliable and trustworthy. You can then compare the health insurance quotes and finally decide on a company that provides everything that you need from a health insurance policy.