Health Insurance

Living without health insurance can be deadly

Submitted by pahealth on October 5, 2009 - 4:04pm

Where are the human faces in the health care debate? Those who are self-employed and have no insurance? Those who are working two jobs but no insurance? Those who had insurance until they lost their jobs? Those who die prematurely because they had no access to medical care?

The Daily Item from Sunbury highlighted some of these in its October 4th edition. Writer Rick Dandes told the story of seven area individuals.

Senate Finance Considers Baucus Plan

Submitted by pahealth on September 22, 2009 - 11:43am

A vital step in the passage of health care reform began September 22 as the Senate Finance Committee began consideration of the plan proposed by its chairman, Senator Max Baucus.

Death by Uninsurance

Submitted by pahealth on September 22, 2009 - 11:06am

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Physicians Support Public Option

Submitted by pahealth on September 22, 2009 - 10:50am

A recent survey of nearly 5,000 physicians showed strong support (63 percent) for health reform that expands public and private health insurance options. Only 27 percent of responding physicians favored the expansion of private options only.

The findings are reported in the September 22nd issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Employer-based Coverage Continues Slide in PA

Submitted by pahealth on September 14, 2009 - 1:19pm

The long decline of employer-based health coverage in Pennsyvlania continued in 2008, as reported by the Census Bureau September 10. The number of people with such coverage dropped to 7.1 million in 2008, down 11 percent from 8.0 million in 2000.

In total, 1.2 million Pennsylvanians were uninsured in 2007-2008. This is roughly one in 10, as compared to one in 12 residents lacking coverage in 2000-2001.

Media Release - Census Data on Health Coverage in PA.doc

Wall Street or Main Street?

Submitted by pahealth on September 8, 2009 - 3:30pm

"For too long the value of work has been diminished by policies that have put Wall Street above Main Street." That's Bill George, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, writing on Labor Day in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Cost of insurance rising five times faster than incomes

Submitted by pahealth on August 24, 2009 - 7:15pm

Want to know why your wages haven't been increasing? Look at the cost of health insurance. According to a study by Families USA, between 2000 and 2009, the cost of family health insurance provided by Pennsylvania employers jumped by 95 percent - from $6,721 to $13,116 annually. During that same period, median earnings for a Pennsylvania employee grew by only 17.5 percent - from $24,834 to $29,188.

Whistleblower tells of America's health care nightmare

Submitted by pahealth on July 27, 2009 - 3:37pm

Wendell Potter, a former senior executive at the giant health insurer Cigna, is telling the truth about how the industry confuses its customers and dumps the sick. It's all part of the effort to maximize profits that will please Wall Street investors.

PA House passes health reform bills

Submitted by pahealth on July 1, 2009 - 3:15pm

Two important bills - one to expand subsidized health insurance, the other to protect small businesses against premium spikes - cleared the Pennsylvania House June 29. Both face an uphill struggle in the Senate, which has shown little interest to date in expanding insurance coverage or regulating insurance companies.

PA House to vote on rate protection for small business

Submitted by pahealth on June 22, 2009 - 4:46pm

Health insurance rate protections enjoyed by employers in 48 other states are moving through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. House Bill 746, authored by Rep. Tony DeLuca (Allegheny County), is expected to be brought to the House floor for final passage soon.

Letter to members - HB 746.doc