For 47 years, this reporters entire life, the less fortunate of this country had a defender, someone they could count on when times were hard. That "Lion of the Senate", was behind every health care initiative this country has ever instituted. That medicare you enjoy? Kennedy, Medicaid..? Kennedy. Health care reform was the life work of Senator Edward (Teddy) Kennedy, and now that he is gone, the question is, will the fight die with him?

I recieved an email from the President last night. It was a one paragraph note - I am sure it went out to a lot of us, but here it is, in full.

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- "Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me. In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom. His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today -- to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family. Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still". Sincerely, President Barack Obama *(please comment)

Abortion Coverage? No...

OK, for argument sake, let's say it's a year from now, health care reform is the law of the land and the HHS Secretary does decide that the public option must cover abortion. Would that then mean that the federal government is subsidizing abortion?

No. How could that be? Because even though it's called a "public plan," citizens would be paying premiums for their coverage. In theory, then, abortion services would be paid for just by private premiums, not by public subsidies.

Anti-abortion advocates argue that in this case, premiums are akin to taxes -- money goes from a citizen's pocket into the U.S. Treasury -- so if premium dollars are paying for abortion, it's morally equivalent to tax dollars paying for abortion. Democrats have proposed additional provisions to prevent funds from being used for abortion (more on that shortly), but on the public option, I think the pro-lifers have the better case.

There would be large federal outlays required to set up a public option, the federal government would administer it and there may possibly be ongoing federal subsidies. If the public option were to include abortion, it would be hard to argue that there was no taxpayer support of abortion resulting from that.

How about this idea: abortion is not covered in the basic plan, but consumers have the ability to purchase, with their own money, a rider that does cover abortion. Bill Donohue of the conservative Catholic League said the idea "could break the deadlock in Catholic circles" and Bill Doerflinger of the United States Conferences of Catholic Bishops said it was "such a crazy idea that it might just work." *What do you think? (please comment)

Health Care for America

HIALEAH, FL -- Supporters of the President's health care agenda are ramping up their rallies and bus tours, aiming to counter increasing public skepticism leading up to Congress' return to work.

Jacki Schechner, spokeswoman for Health Care for America Now, an umbrella organization of groups pushing for a comprehensive health care overhaul, said, "We want to send members of Congress back to D.C. with the real message, which is that the majority of the public want comprehensive health care reform and we want it now," he said.

"We want to make sure members of Congress understand the last couple of weeks is not where the majority of the public is," said Schechner, referring to rowdy town hall meetings dominated by critics of the Democrats' plans.

Health Care for America Now is coordinating its efforts with Organizing for America, the Obama campaign organization now melded into the national Democratic Party, which reputedly has an e-mail list of up to 13 million names.

2,000 events are planned around the country through Labor Day, according to Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine. The wide range of events include phone bank calling and rallies.

"We want our members of Congress to head back to Washington with calls for reform still ringing in their ears — and knowing that those who are working hard for reform have our thanks," said an e-mail sent by Organizing for America inviting supporters to bus tour events. "But we can't do it without a massive show of support from the voters who know what's at stake."  *comment here

Future Health Insurance Options

DAVIE, FL – We are all wondering what will happen to health care. Will we get cheap health insurance coverage, mandated by the government? Will it mean long waits at the doctor’s office? Or will it mean sweet benefits at a cheaper price?

Let’s think about this for a second. If there is a new public health option brought to the market place, what do you think the other insurance companies will do? Since they won’t be able to compete with the price, they will have to offer some other reason to buy their brand. That might be more benefits; maybe that Aetna policy will include house-calls, or an in-home massage, or special treatment if you are hospitalized.

If the government creates another option, most likely it will be a stripped down, basic policy. I assume you would be able to go to the doctors a couple of times per year without charge, and you would also have to go once per year for maintenance; blood work, the bend over I love you test, just to make sure you are good to go. You would be able to go to the hospital, and get treatment for a condition you already have, so the other insurance companies would have to include that too; see, another reason this public thing might be good.

A public health option would not be the cure-all for health care, but it might clear the pipes so to speak. Some say it must be included, in order to bring down insurance costs. And it seems it would lower overall health insurance costs, but really, how much will a public option plan cost? Nobody knows. It could be as little as a dollar a day in some cases, but for the richest of the rich, it will be a lot more. Chances are those rich individuals will buy a gold-rated upper class health option from a big health insurance company, because I would opt out of the public option, to buy that Aetna plan, with a pretty nurse who comes to my home, to give me a massage.  *comment here

Health Care Facts vs Fiction

Orlando, FL – Your view of healthcare is a reflection on which news channel you watch. If you think the president’s plan will lower your insurance costs, you most likely watch CNN or NBC, if you think death panels and Nazis – you’re watching FOX.

Things are not like they used to be; in the 1960’s for instance if Walter Cronkite said “the president’s health care plan was good”, it was fact. He was after all, the most trusted man in America, so we believed what he, and Brinkley, and the other real journalists were saying. They told the truth. Today, it’s hard to know who is telling the truth. They stare directly into the camera, with a straight face, and tell total lies.

Anyone over the age of 50 has a hard time with this concept; somehow in the back of their minds they believe everything spoken on the TV is gospel truth. Well folks, it’s not. Nine years ago, the Republican Party got together with an Australian media man, and created FOX News. At that moment in time, the truth became spin; the facts blurred with nuances, information became a game, and a toy for the right-wing machine. And today, Fox continues to spread lies and misinformation, and the average folk, people like you, have to either shut it off completely, or at the very least, try and see what the other side is saying, to see which makes sense. This of course leads us to the matter to health care, and health insurance, and how the minority party in Congress, and Big Medical companies, have been able to use the news to spread lies.

“If you like your insurance, you can keep it”. The president said that time and again, yet the information goes in the right ear, and the right wing media hears, and says something else. Like this little peccadillo. A Republican politician wants to get the government to pay doctors to talk to you about the final options for your loved ones, and the crazy people hear “death panels that will kill grandma”. If Walter Cronkite said “death panels” I’d believe him, but he’s dead, and so is truth in journalism. The same people who watched CBS back in the 60’s now watch FOX and believe everything they say, which is why all the angry people at those town-hall health care meetings are very old, very confused, and mostly misinformed.

The health care meetings talk of Nazi’s – you know why? Because they are trying to scare the people who remember what a Nazi is. They pulled out “killing grandma” because grandma is scared when you say that. And why, why would a big TV network tell lies about health care, or insurance, or killing grandma? Because of money, lots of money from the pharmaceutical industry, and the doctors, and everyone else who lives off today’s system.

So you - you who fought, and died for freedom - this is what your sacrifice has come to, your pain and your suffering has turned into the freedom to lie, and distort, and to confuse the weak at a time when they need us most.

Here is a fact. Barrack Obama a good man, one of the smartest, best leaders this country has had for a long time. So why are people spreading lies? It must be money. With a clear mind, let’s look at his health care objectives. He wants to make health care affordable, to stop the insurance companies from canceling you if you get sick, to help people pay for their healthcare, to be free from the fear of, if something should happen to you, or your loved one, you won’t end up in the poor house because of it. These are not bad things. Think about them for a while. Read them again, and  *comment here

Health Care - from Scratch

DAYTONA BEACH-- Let’s imagine you live here in Florida, and you have to power to change the health care system into anything you want; what would it be? Well it couldn’t be free, could it? Maybe, but that would be weird; you can’t expect to pay nothing, so chances are you would make up a fair price for things...

Following that thought, you might come up with a fee for health coverage. If you are poor, you pay nothing. If you make $30,000 you pay something like $1 a day for coverage, a person who makes $100,000 might have to pay $3.00 per day. Rich people can pay a bit more, but not too much more, because that’s not fair either. So in the long run we raise a few hundred billion dollars a year to pay for health care.

Since we are basing the cost of health insurance by the amount you make per year, this only works if everyone pays taxes. We all know there are many people out there who do not pay their taxes. Currently there are billions of dollars owed in back taxes, and getting them paid is next to impossible. If this health insurance idea of yours is to work, it has to include some kind of tax amnesty, to clear up the past, and get them paying into the system now. So you declare a past tax transgression amnesty act, writing off the past debt, and getting everyone paying into the system.

Now there are 300 million people insured, each paying into the system a few dollar per day, and they are covered; no deductible, no co-pay, if you’re sick, you go to the doctors, you need pills, they are not free, but they have to be affordable. Now the drug companies are mad, because they aren’t going to make a billion dollars a minute selling drugs, but who cares?

Why do we care if a big pharmaceutical company makes another googillion? We don’t care. We could care less if these monsters make less money – it’s about time. So we come up with a fair price for drugs. If it costs a dollar to make, it should never cost more than $10. Pharma should be happy making 10X on the dollar.

That MRI, the one you can’t afford? Now you can, because you say the cost of an MRI is the cost of the tech, and the usage fee for the MRI machine. The procedure, which takes about an hour, will be billed, in your new health care system like this: The tech, that person who went to school, and is really important; they earn $300 an hour – the rental fee, of the equipment, is quite cheap, only $100 (based on the cost of the GE machine, divided by the total number of images made per half-lifetime) – so this MRI which currently costs $2500.00 will now cost only $400. The cost of the equipment is the same; GE still makes a killing making and selling MRI machines.

That doctor, that charges $300 for 5 minutes of time? Now he gets paid from the government, not you. Every month, they will get a check, covering $50 for that 5 minutes, that’s it. If they see 6 patients per hour, thats $300 per hour, multiply that by (6 hour day) and they are still making $1800 for their time. That's enough money; isn't it? Isn't that fair? Or am I being too tight with the funds. Alright, make it $2000 per day. Is that enough to pay your family doctor? That comes up to $60,000 per month these doctor's can earn.

Under your health care plan, that's it, they will not make money selling shots, or x-rays, or anything, which is why the medical industry is so against health reform, but you, you are in charge, you are the king or queen of health care, and you say the time is now to change, or reform, and you throw it all in the trash and start from scratch.  *Comment Here

So...Temper Tantrums Work?

JACKSONVILLE -- To put it mildly, the Republicans, and the health care industry have been little brats; they have kicked and screamed, and thrown themselves down on the floor and cried like snot-nosed babies for more than a week because the President thinks health care is too expensive. Normally, when a baby throws a temper tantrum, you ignore them until they cry themselves out, and then you put them to bed, but not this time, no. This time the baby cries, and screams, and lies; and we give it a lollypop.

Their crying, and screaming is not about changing health care; it is about other deep-seeded issues that we need not go into at this time. But no matter, their crying fit has worked, the media, and all of us took notice. We all stopped what we were doing to pay attention to a very bad baby. We have given credit to their behavior, which makes one wonder what kind of parents we have become.

This past weekend, it almost sounded like the president was considering dropping the 'public option' portion of his health care bill. That was until, taking a cue from the Republicans, the media started screaming, and Democrats began crying, and demanded a public option in the health-care overhaul, saying they would not support a bill without it. Sounds like everyone in Washington needs a spanking and a nap. Comment Here

FROM THE EDITOR: "I refuse to believe the president doesn't have a clue, as some suggested last night on MSNBC. I will tell myself, that this is some kind of trick to make Congressmen declare their position for a public option. I know the president is as smart as we thought him to be last November."

Leaders of a Congressional Caucus said in a letter last night, to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, “To take the public option off the table would be a grave error... passage in the House of Representatives depends on it", and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that said "any legislation that didn’t contain a government plan was 'unacceptable.'”

Republicans oppose the creation of a federal plan, saying it would undercut private insurers and give the government too great a role in health care. Is that what they really mean, or are they protecting their profits? Comment Here

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the President would like to include a government-run program as an option for consumers," adding, the administration supports “choice and competition.” BLOG THIS: Do you think - "Omitting the government plan “should be a deal-breaker?” Comment Here  *©2009

BLOGGERS on Insurance Co-ops

DAVIE, FL -- The media outlets are saying, "the President will no longer insist on a so-called "public option" in a health care bill he signs", but believe it or not, the idea of a government-started "co-op" alternative to private health insurance has not been abandoned.

Michael D. Tanner of the Cato Institute wrote instructively about the co-op "alternative" a few months ago, he wrote: "The only thing intriguing about the co-op alternative is whether it is a completely meaningless construct or simply camouflage for the "Public Plan" option".

Tanner continued, "the new health insurance co-ops would presumably have to advertise like other insurance companies, build physician networks, pay competitive reimbursement rates, and in general act like, well, every other insurance company."

Here is something to ponder:: "It is suggested that the new federal co-ops would be nonprofits, and therefore would offer better service and lower costs. But many insurance companies, including "mutual" insurers and many "Blues," are already nonprofit companies. If the new co-ops operate under the same rules as other nonprofit insurers, why bother?"

Several previous attempts by governments to set up co-ops have, in fact, failed. Perhaps the largest such failure was the Florida Community Health Purchasing Alliance, which was set up by the State of Florida in 1993, and at one time covered 98,000 people. It was unable to attract small business customers and ultimately went out of business in 2000. Does anyone really believe that a Congress that is busy bailing out banks and automobile companies because they are 'too big to fail" is going to sit idly by while one of these new co-ops suffers a similar fate?

If a "co-op" is run by the federal government under rules imposed by the federal government with funding provided by the federal government, it's simply government-run health insurance by another name. Opponents of a government takeover of the health care system should not be fooled. -- Comment here

Please read the following story about health insurance co-ops.

Health Insurance Co-ops

HIALEAH -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday that a new government-run alternative to private health insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health-care overhaul. The White House would be open to co-ops, she said, a sign that Democrats want a compromise so they can declare a victory.

Reforming the U.S. health-care system is arguably Barack Obama's most challenging political fight yet as president, in no small part because of the vast number of diverse stakeholders involved. His goal is to ensure health care for everyone in a country with the world's costliest system. Obama had wanted the government to run a health insurance organization to help cover the nation's almost 50 million uninsured, but didn't include it as one of his core principles of reform.

Any plan must get through a Democratic-controlled Congress, where many lawmakers are up for re-election next year. Also, there's an ideological fault line between Democrats and Republicans, and liberals and conservatives over the level of government involvement in health care.

"I am confident that when all is said and done, we can forge the consensus we need to achieve this goal," Obama wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday in The New York Times. "We are already closer to achieving health-insurance reform than we have ever been."

He added that there is "broad agreement in Congress on about 80 per cent of what we're trying to do."

Co-ops would compete with private insurers

Under a proposal by Democrat Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, consumer-owned non-profit co-operatives would sell health insurance in competition with private industry, not unlike the way electric and agriculture co-ops operate, especially in rural states such as his own.

With $3 billion US to $4 billion in initial support from the government, the co-ops would operate under a national structure with state affiliates, but independent of the government. They would be required to maintain the type of financial reserves that private companies are required to keep in case of unexpectedly high claims.

"I think there will be a competitor to private insurers," Sebelius said. "That's really the essential part, is you don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing."

Lawmakers have discussed the co-op model for months although the Democratic leadership and the White House have said they prefer a government-run option.

Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, called the argument for a government-run public plan little more than a "wasted effort." He added there are enough votes in the Senate for a co-operative plan.

"It's not government-run and government-controlled," he said. "It's membership-run and membership-controlled. But it does provide a non-profit competitor for the for-profit insurance companies, and that's why it has appeal on both sides."

Republicans say a public option would have unfair advantages that would drive private insurers out of business. Critics say co-ops would not be genuine public options for health insurance. But Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a liberal Texas Democrat, said it would be difficult to pass any legislation through the Democratic-controlled Congress without the promised public plan.

"We'll have the same number of people uninsured," she said. "If the insurance companies wanted to insure these people now, they'd be insured."

A shift to a co-operative plan would certainly give some cover to fiscally conservative Democrats in Congress — many of whom represent Republican-leaning swing districts — who are hardly cheering for the government-run plan.

"The reality is that it takes 60 per cent to get this done in the Senate. It's probably going to have to be bipartisan in the Senate, which I think it should be," said Rep. Mike Ross, an Arkansas Democrat, who added that the proposals still need changes before he can support them.

Obama, in his opinion piece, said political manoeuvre should be excluded from the debate. "In the coming weeks, the cynics and the naysayers will continue to exploit fear and concerns for political gain," he wrote. "But for all the scare tactics out there, what's truly scary — truly risky — is the prospect of doing nothing."

Health Insurance Rates Skyrocket

TAMPA-- Have health insurance rates increased? You bet! A study by an independant thinktank - "Families USA" - found that Florida's health insurance premiums grew 3.7 times faster than personal incomes for most of the Bush Administration.

The nonprofit organization released the health care report in its efforts to drum up support for the health care reform bills pending in Congress. Will this work? Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, and other Florida Democrats have said health care reform would make health insurance more affordable for Floridians.

THE DETAILS -- According to the Families USA study, the average total family health insurance premium in Florida increased from $6,812 in 2000 to $13,497 in 2009 — a 98.1 percent growth rate. Employees felt much of that increase, as the workers’ portion of the insurance premium increased 138.6 percent, compared to 81.7 percent for the employers’ portion.

At the same time, the average earnings of Florida workers increased 26.7 percent to $28,836 from $22,753.

“Rising health care costs threaten the financial well being of Floridians and people across the nation,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, during a conference call. “If health care reform doesn’t happen soon, many more families could be priced out and more businesses would become uncompetitive.”

Some health care providers are concerned that the public plan wouldn’t pay them enough to fully compensate them for treating patients. The pending bills call on the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate the payment rates. It is not clear what the outcome of that process would be.

Two of the proposed health care reform bills would expand Medicaid eligibility by increasing the income level permitted by enrollees. A separate report by Florida Community Health Action Information Network said these plans could provide Medicaid coverage to as many as 1.5 million additional Floridians. The state had 2.5 million Medicaid enrollees in July.

Comparing Health Insurance

Those who have tried finding Florida health insurance quotes on the phone, or in person, know it can talk forever to do all the paperwork; those questions which seem to be never ending. In order to find a quote, you have to enter the birth date of every member of family, weight and height and other such details. Then you have to go to the next company, and go through the same thing, just to compare rates.

We have a simple solution available to find the best health insurance rates; we compile all available data, by comparing all Florida health insurance policies. Our free consulting service includes advice about each policy and what the comparisons mean. We help you make an educated decision about your health insurance.

Imagine, checking Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana One, Golden Rule, United Healthcare - and all the others - at the same time!

BONUS: We also review your policies every year, and compare what you are paying to what is offered. We contact you when a better policy is available for the money. No other health insurance company does that! With all the changes coming for health insurance, its nice to know you can be covered now, at the lowest price, and when things change, you will be notified of any newer, better policies.

NEWS: Town Hall Hoax

MIAMI-- Members of Congress are trying to come up with a fair and balanced health care plan for America; that's nice...while that's going on, the health care industry is spending millions of dollars per day to protect their backsides. Town hall meetings across the country are being disrupted with angry, misinformed voters. Democrats on the hill are accusing Republican’s and their ‘PR firms’ of disrupting these meetings across the country; inciting fear and violence, in order to stop the health care plan from passing.

QUESTION:

• “When did it become okay for businesses to use millions of dollars per day to spread lies?”

• “Why is it okay for these companies to accept ‘donations’ from rich Republican donors and then use it to spread fear, and violence?”

• “Why would the health industry pay millions of dollars every day to stop health reform?”

You are smart enough to figure it out. Comment here

The health insurance debate, is no longer a debate, you can’t have a debate when parties are in denial about the facts, or when you are trying to debate with people “on the take”. You can’t talk about health insurance, when the health insurance industry pays millions per day to fill town hall meetings with people who are misinformed about changes in health care. You can’t talk about change when the people you are talking to, are in the room to create trouble.

Remember, it’s not too hard to trick an entire nation. It’s happened to us before - not too long ago. So they know if they scare us, they can pretty much do what they want. That’s terrorism! *Example

They think you would be afraid if they told you, you were about to lose your coverage, or that the plan intends to refuse care to your dying grandmother – so they spread those lies. They take millions of dollars, and pay TV networks to run ads that are meant to confuse and distort the facts; they tell lies to spread fear. The term for that is ‘propaganda’.

Who is behind this health insurance blockade? Most likely those who make the most money now, and stand to lose the most money should reform come. Let’s see, who makes the most money now from health care? That could be: Doctors, or these new medical groups who make a killing overbilling their insurance claims, and any of the big health companies might be a good candidate.

The drug companies stand to lose billions if health reform passes, and the members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, who have taken hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, are now doing everything they can to stop health insurance reform – they might be involved too – what do you think? Comment here

President Obama Fights For Your Health

MIAMI, FLORIDA -- Española   PDF EDITORIAL - The President is doing everything he can to pass his health care bill. Speaking from the Whitehouse, Obama reaffirmed his position on health insurance, and companies that sell insurance. Florida health insurance web, feels it is important to analyze what the president is saying about health insurance, so we have provided the speech below in regards to health care. (Other points have been omitted for clarity)..

THE PRESIDENT: "Health care costs are the biggest drivers of our deficit. Nobody disputes that. So I’m looking forward to meeting with several members of Congress who are working to pass health insurance reform that will bring down long-term costs, expand coverage, and provide more choice."

I know that there are those in this town who openly declare their intention to block health reform. It's a familiar Washington script that we've seen many times before. These opponents of reform would rather score political points than offer relief to Americans who've seen premiums double and costs grow three times faster than wages. They would maintain a system that works for the insurance and the drug companies, while becoming increasingly unaffordable for families and for businesses.

But there are many others who are working hard to address this growing crisis. I know that there is a tendency in Washington to accentuate the differences instead of underscoring common ground. But make no mistake: We are closer than ever before to the reform that the American people need, and we're going to get the job done. I have urged Congress to act, and the health care reform bills making their way through the respective committees in the House and the Senate reflect a hard-earned consensus about how to move forward. So let me just lay out the substantial common ground in the current bills.

1. We've agreed that our health reform bill will extend coverage and include unprecedented insurance protections for the American people. Under each of these bills, you won't be denied coverage if you've got a preexisting medical condition. You won't lose your health care if you change jobs, if you lose your job, or if you start a business. And you won't lose your insurance if you get sick.
2. We've agreed that our health reform bill will promote choice. America -- Americans will be able to compare the price and quality of different plans, and pick the plan that they want. If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it. Let me repeat that: If you like your plan, you'll be able to keep it. And each bill provides for a public option that will keep insurance companies honest, ensuring the competition necessary to make coverage affordable.
3. We've agreed that our health reform bill will emphasize prevention and wellness. By investing in programs that help Americans live healthier lives, we will save money, prevent illness, and increase the competitiveness of our country. We've agreed that our health reform bill will protect American families from financial catastrophe if they get sick. That's why each of these bills has out-of-pocket limits that will help ensure that families don't go bankrupt because of illness. And we have agreed that our health reform bill will include dramatic measures to cut costs while improving quality.

Each of these bills improves oversight while cracking down on waste. Each will help reduce unwarranted giveaways to insurance companies in Medicare. And each of these bills will provide incentives so that patients get the best care, not just the most expensive care.

The consensus that we've forged is not limited to Congress. Indeed, we've forged a level of consensus on health care that has never been reached in the history of this country. Health care providers have agreed to do their part to reduce the rate of growth in health care spending. The pharmaceutical industry has agreed to spending reductions that will make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. Hospitals have agreed to bring down costs. The American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association, who represent millions of nurses and doctors who know our health care system best, have announced their support for reform.

COBRA Insurance Can Help Unemployed

en Española * ADVICE -- Individuals who lost their jobs in the last several months may be eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance coverage at greatly reduced rates.

The federal government will pay 65% of Cobra continuation coverage premiums as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was signed into law on Feb. 17. The coverage will apply to individuals who lost or lose their jobs between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009 and are eligible for continuing coverage under Cobra, a federal law called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.

The new subsidy "makes Cobra much more affordable for a lot of people," says Scott Keyes, a senior health-care consultant at Watson Wyatt, a consulting firm. He expects participation could double or triple.

The new subsidy would last up to nine months for individuals who are not eligible for other insurance such as Medicare or a spouse's plan. It applies to employees, their spouses and any children who lost health coverage because of an involuntary termination.

Participants also can't earn more than $125,000 in the year they receive the subsidy if they are single or more than $250,000 for couples who file jointly.

Laid-off workers already can extend their job-related health coverage for up to 18 months under Cobra. The law applies to companies with 20 or more workers, which continue to offer a group health plan.

"I think this is aimed at helping people stay insured," says Amy Bergner, a principal at Mercer, a consulting firm in Washington.

She says employees who didn't elect Cobra coverage initially now have a second chance to sign up. -- read more

Obama Fights For Reform

A Public Option

COBRA Benefits Increase

Can Congress Compromise?

Española Cobra Para Muchos

Obama Firm On Health Insurance

Española March 2009

Free Healthcare By South Florida Doctor

Cancer Patient Loses Coverage

Your Health or Insurance Company Profits

The Principles of Health Insurance

Health Insurance Secretary Announced

Health Insurance Myths

Española