States Decide on Running New Pools for Insurance New York Times
Friday is the deadline for states to tell the Obama administration whether they want to run the high-risk insurance pool for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions, or whether they will leave the task to Kathleen Sebelius , the secretary of health and human services.
Democratic officials in Montana, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, among other states, said they intended to operate the program under contract with the federal government. They were joined by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, a Republican, who gave a rousing endorsement of President Obama ’s health plan at a news conference.
But Republican officials in Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska and Nevada turned down the opportunity to run the high-risk pool, as did at least one Democratic governor, Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming.
Mr. Freudenthal said he worried that his state’s federal allotment of $8 million “may prove insufficient” to subsidize coverage for the next three and a half years. The temporary federal program runs from July to Jan. 1, 2014, when insurers will be required to accept all applicants.
Boston GlobeMost Want Health Reform But Fear Its Side EffectsDebra Matherne, a 43-year-old lawyer in Pennsylvania, agreed, saying she is contemplating leaving a job she loves because health insurance premiums for her family have jumped to $2000 a month. The midday news conference was part of an orchestrated Spouses in Health Care Affect Members' Views ama's moment High Price Tag For Reform Bill Prompts Sparring And a Delay
ABC NewsHealth insurers, providers: No 'public' optionIn Pennsylvania, Medicaid underpays doctors and hospitals on average 20 percent or more for the cost of care for Medicaid patients. Those who buy private insurance are left to pick up the slack. The average family pays an annual "hidden tax" of 10 Obama May Lack Votes for Health-Care, Feinstein Says Obama braced for health battle Senator Casey on Children and Health Care Reform -
CTV.caJAMES JOHNSTON: We have a grown-up in the White HouseNot everyone in these United States has the benefit of belonging to a good union or being a member of Congress which has one of the best health insurance plans in the world. As Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania stated so well, "Those who got hundreds of Allegheny County GOP echoes Democrats' grassroots tactics National Review Online: Republican Infighting Matters Where are the jobs, Mr. President?
