Health care issues: Public plan compromisesOctober 30th, 2009 Health care issues: Public plan compromisesA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Are there compromises being considered when it comes to letting the government sell insurance in competition with private industry?
THE POLITICS: The so-called public plan — a new government insurance plan like Medicare for the elderly, except targeted at people who can't get affordable care elsewhere — has been perhaps the most controversial element of the health care debate. Many Democrats say it's needed to give consumers affordable choices.
A look at the proposed government insurance plan that will be debated by the SenateOctober 26th, 2009 Details on Senate's new public insurance proposalSome details of a provision, to be included in the Senate bill, for the government to sell health care insurance in competition with the private market:
— Probably beginning in 2013, insurance purchasing "exchanges" would be open to people buying coverage on their own as well as small businesses. They could choose from private insurance plans, or from the government plan that probably would be cheaper because it wouldn't need to turn a profit.
Neb. senator says an opt-in public option for health insurance could draw his supportOctober 25th, 2009 Nelson open to trimmed-down public option approachWASHINGTON — A key Democratic senator says he may be open to a government-run insurance program that allows states to participate only if they ask to participate. Democratic Sen.
Health care issues: Who's insured, and howOctober 21st, 2009 Health care issues: Who's insured, and howA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: How many people have health insurance now, and how would that change if the system is overhauled?
THE POLITICS: One of the driving causes behind the longtime effort to overhaul health care is the desire to reduce the number of families that lack health insurance. The number of people without insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008, or about 15 percent of the population, according to the Census Bureau.
Health care issues: A 'trigger' or 'fallback' plan as a compromise to public optionOctober 14th, 2009 Health care issues: The 'trigger' public planA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Would a so-called "trigger" or "fallback" public plan win enough votes to get some sort of government-run insurance option in any health care legislation Congress may pass?
THE POLITICS: The trigger option is seen as a possible compromise that would replace the idea of allowing the government to sell insurance in competition with private insurance. Many Democrats want the so-called public option but Republicans oppose it.
Health care issues: Paying for abortionsOctober 9th, 2009 Health care issues: Paying for abortionsA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Would new health care legislation allow abortions to be funded with tax money?
THE POLITICS: Abortion opponents say proposed government-sponsored health insurance plans would change federal policy by paying for abortions in many cases. For years, a restriction in the law that governs Medicaid — health insurance for the poor — has barred federal funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother's life.
Health care issues: Are insurance market changes enough to fix the health care system?October 5th, 2009 Health care issues: Insurance market overhaulA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Are changes in the insurance industry enough to fix problems in the nation's health care system?
THE POLITICS: To help expand health coverage, President Barack Obama is seeking changes to underwriting practices that can prevent Americans from obtaining affordable insurance. His proposals would ban higher premiums, caps or denial of coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition or when a person gets sick.
Health care issues: The pros, cons and politics of health insurance cooperatives, in briefSeptember 30th, 2009 Health care issues: Insurance cooperativesA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Are consumer-run co-ops a realistic alternative to a new government-run insurance option?
THE POLITICS: The Democratic push for a government-run insurance plan to compete in the marketplace is running into brisk resistance in Congress. As a possible compromise, some lawmakers have proposed establishing nonprofit insurance co-ops instead of a public plan.
Health care issues: Shopping for insuranceSeptember 24th, 2009 Health care issues: Shopping for insuranceA look at key issues in the nation's health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Is there an easier, more transparent way for consumers to shop for health insurance?
THE POLITICS: Most Americans under age 65 get insurance coverage through their employers. Small-business employers, however, increasingly find policies unaffordable.
President Obama promises to start moving on immigration reform in CongressSeptember 20th, 2009 Obama embraces promise to move on immigrationWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says undocumented workers should not be included in the health care overhaul plan he's trying to push through Congress. He tells Univision's "Al Punto" show that if undocumented immigrants want to buy insurance, that's a matter to be settled with insurance companies.
Health care overhaul would include not-for-profit option, give insurance companies competitionSeptember 9th, 2009 Not-for-profit public option part of health planWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says a not-for-profit public option needs to be available as part of any health care overhaul. He says it would keep insurance companies honest.
Health care issues: Government spendingSeptember 9th, 2009 Health care issues: Government spendingA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Can taxpayers afford new subsidies to provide health insurance for millions in such a weak economy?
THE POLITICS: With a comprehensive insurance policy averaging nearly $13,000 a year for a family, covering nearly 50 million uninsured doesn't come cheap. Estimates range from $100 billion to $150 billion a year.
House speaker: House won't pass health overhaul bill without public planAugust 20th, 2009 Pelosi: House health bill needs public planSAN FRANCISCO — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there's no way the House can pass a health overhaul bill that doesn't include a new public insurance plan. Her comments at a news conference Thursday in San Francisco come as the White House faces a liberal backlash for indicating openness to leaving a public plan out of a final health bill.
Obama defends government's ability to run health care plan, cites Medicare programAugust 11th, 2009 Obama defends ability of government on health carePORTSMOUTH, N.H. — President Barack Obama says Americans wary of a government-run health care plan should look no further than Medicare.
Health Secretary Sebelius pitches public health insurance plan, saying it will lower costsJune 14th, 2009 Sebelius says Obama plan would lower health costsWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the government health insurance plan proposed by the Obama administration would increase competition and drive down costs. Sebelius says President Barack Obama does not want to dismantle privately owned plans and does not want the 180 million people who have employer coverage to lose their insurance.
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