Senator Edward Kennedy (1932-2009) August 26, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health reform.Tags: affordable health insurance, Congress, Fox News, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health insurance reform, health news, health plans, health reform, healthcare, House of Representatives, Insurance, insurance access, Kennedy, Medicaid, medical care access, Medicare, NY Times, patient care, patients, Physicians, political news, politics, pre existing conditions, Senate, Senator Ted Kennedy, underinsured, uninsured
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Regardless of politics and ideology, one must respect the many ordeals and trials faced and overcome by Senator Ted Kennedy. He was clearly a flawed person, as are we all. Additionally, he sustained the scorn of many of his fellow citizens, perhaps justified, over actions in his earlier years. Nevertheless, in the midst of this great debate on the future of health care in America, is would be impossible not to acknowledge his longtime interest in and support of expanding health care opportunities for Americans. For that he will be long remembered . . . obi jo and jomaxx
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a son of one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew triumph and tragedy in near-equal measure and who will be remembered as one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the Senate, died Tuesday night. He was 77. Mr. Kennedy, a disciplined liberal lawmaker with a sometimes-stormy personal life, knew triumph and tragedy during his decades near the center of American political history. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the brother of John and Robert Kennedy who came to be known as the lion of the Senate in his own right, died of brain cancer at on Tuesday.
Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies – http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na
Edward M. Kennedy Dies at 77: Official Statements – http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/edward-m-kennedy-dies-at-77/?hp
Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/us/politics/27kennedy.html?_r=1
Lawmakers React to Sen. Ted Kennedy’s Death – http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/26/lawmakers-react-sen-ted-kennedys-death/
Who are the “uninsured”? August 26, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health insurance, health reform, uninsured.Tags: underinsured, health insurance, health reform, health, Insurance, access, health care reform, health insurance access, health insurance reform, affordable health insurance, insurance access, Congress, Medicare, Physicians, President, healthcare, patients, personal health responsibility, mandated health coverage, uninsured, Medicaid, health plans, Hospitals, patient care, medical care access, insurance benefits, President of the United States, politics, House of Representatives, Senate, payroll taxes, Medicare payroll tax, health care, health news, income tax, taxpayers, who pays taxes, illness, illegal immigrants, illegal aliens, US citizens, tax, ER, emergency rooms
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COMMENTARY:
We recently were the recipient of a fairly aggressive comment, which we have chosen not to post, but to which we will respond. It is well known to every health care worker that faces the daily trials of caring for those showing up in emergency rooms across America as well as large inner city and county hospitals that lack of education, lack of compliance and poor lifestyle/dietary/domestic choices are the leading contributors to illness, injury, trauma and death in those populations. We were labeled ‘misanthropic’ because we pointed that out. Yes, we know that many of the uninsured are young, employed (at least part time) and healthy. We also know that many make a CHOICE not to be insured but do make other choices which can hardly be considered essential. We also know that many of the uninsured are not citizens of the United States.
We have not only argued for Real Health Reform, but have presented our own plan for consideration since day one. We have been critical of the current proposals from Congress for many reasons, which we have outlined. We have not been critical at attempts to extend opportunities for health insurance coverage to more American citizens, as that has been our goal from the beginning.
We were also tasked for lack of credible references – something we have NEVER been charged with. So in the interest of self-policing we have undertaken to review again (as we have in earlier posts, see the short list below) this subject. The ‘facts’ are that when one actually chooses to look at all of the data, as we have before, and chooses to do so with an open mind, and from a health perspective, the take away is very much what we have commented on in the past. There is not a health care crisis in America. There is a health insurance problem as well as a personal responsibility problem (which certainly extends beyond the health care arena). Allow us to quote from just a few of the many and varied sources we have reviewed on this topic . . . obi jo and jomaxx
Roughly one quarter of those counted as uninsured – 12 million people – are eligible for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), but haven’t enrolled. This includes 64 % of all uninsured children, and 29 % of parents with children. Since these people would be enrolled in those programs automatically if they went to the hospital for care, calling them uninsured is really a smokescreen. (August 2009) (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/18/who_are_the_uninsured_97934.html)
Another 10 million uninsured “Americans” are, at least technically, not Americans. Approximately 5.6 million are illegal immigrants, and another 4.4 million are legal immigrants but not citizens. (August 2009) (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/18/who_are_the_uninsured_97934.html)
About two-thirds of uninsured adults in all three surveys have no college education and more than one-quarter of the uninsured did not graduate from high school. These groups tend to be less able to get high-skill jobs that come with health benefits. Those with less education are also more likely to be uninsured for longer periods. (August 2006) (http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7553.pdf)
Across all three surveys, more than half of the non elderly uninsured come from low-income families, ranging from 52% to 59% of the uninsured across the surveys (Figure 3). Those with low incomes (less than 200% of the poverty level; or $37,620 for a family of four in 2003) are less likely to have jobs that offer employer-sponsored coverage and are also less likely to be able to afford their share of the premium. Roughly a third of the non elderly population comes from low-income families, but they are disproportionately represented among the uninsured because their chances of being uninsured are over three times greater than those with higher incomes (August 2006) (http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7553.pdf)
(The first group to consider in the 46 million number stated by President Obama ) consisting of about 6.5 million, actually is insured. They are enrolled in Medicaid or S-CHIP but didn’t tell the census taker. This is called the “Medicaid undercount.” The second group, about 4.5 million, consists of people who are eligible for Medicaid or S-CHIP but have not enrolled. If they need care, the hospital or clinic generally enrolls them. In other words, they do not (as Obama claims) go bankrupt or without treatment. In any case, it would be ridiculous to overhaul our healthcare system to provide insurance to people who are already eligible for government assistance but have failed to avail themselves of it. The third group, about 9.5 million, is comprised of non-citizens. People will disagree about what portion of this group should receive government subsidized health insurance. In my view, none should. The fourth group, another 10 million, earns an income more than three times the poverty line. As such, they can afford to buy medical insurance. Taxpayers should not be required to buy it for them. This leaves about 15.5 million (one-third of Obama’s 46 million) who actually are uninsured, cannot become insured simply by enrolling in a free program, are U.S. citizens, and cannot easily afford to purchase insurance. About 5 million members of this cohort are childless adults. (August 2009) ( http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/08/024280.php)
American citizens — especially native-born citizens — are much more likely to have health insurance than immigrants are. In 2005, about 13 % of native-born citizens lacked health insurance, while 43 % of noncitizens (legal and illegal) did, according to the census bureau. (Some sources) site statistics showing that immigration accounted for about 85 % of the increase in uninsured rates between 1998 and 2003. (April 2007) (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/health/uninsured/whoaretheuninsured.html)
Many young, single people make a perfectly rational decision not to buy health insurance. Accidents are the biggest threat to their health; car accidents are covered by automobile insurance and work-related accidents are covered by workmen’s comp. The chance of a young person contracting a catastrophic disease (leukemia, say) is remote, and people aren’t stupid: they know that if they contract such a disease they will be treated whether they can pay or not. And young, single people have not acquired a substantial net worth that they could lose to medical bills. This is why, when Pizza Hut made cheap health insurance available to its part-time employees a few years ago, hardly any of them chose to take advantage of it. (August 2009) (http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/08/024280.php)
A productive conversation about health policy must also separate the concept of a lack of health coverage from a lack of healthcare. Individuals without adequate health insurance still receive medical care from a variety of sources. (June 2009) (http://www.epionline.org/study_detail.cfm?sid=122)
A lack of care is particularly troubling if it leads to differences in mortality based on insurance status. Using data from the Health and Retirement Survey, the authors estimate differences in mortality rates for individuals based on whether they are privately insured, voluntarily uninsured, or involuntarily uninsured. Overall, they find that a lack of health insurance is not likely to be the major factor causing higher mortality rates among the uninsured. The uninsured—particularly the involuntarily uninsured— have multiple disadvantages that are associated with poor health. (June 2009) (http://www.epionline.org/study_detail.cfm?sid=122)
This study shows that a large fraction of the uninsured could likely afford health coverage. In addition, it shows that the involuntarily uninsured are demonstrably different from the privately insured. Finally, the authors show that while the uninsured use fewer health services, they still receive a large amount of care, and there is little discernible difference in mortality based on insurance status. (June 2009) (http://www.epionline.org/study_detail.cfm?sid=122)
PREVIOUS POSTS BY US ON THIS AND RELATED TOPICS:
Only rule changes can really change the system and = Real Health Reform – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/only-rule-changes-can-really-change-the-system-and-real-health-reform/
Health Insurance Reform needed to achieve Real Health Reform – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/health-insurance-reform-needed-to-achieve-real-health-reform/
Is healthcare really a cost? – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/is-healthcare-really-a-cost/
Pre-Existing Conditions: End the Game, Health Coverage for All Now – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/pre-existing-conditions-end-the-game-health-coverage-for-all-now/
Health Insurance: An Individual Responsibility – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/health-insurance-an-indivdual-responsibility/
Mr President: Real Health Reform chances are slipping away – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/mr-president-real-health-reform-chances-are-slipping-away/
Vodoo Health Economics? – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/vodoo-health-economics/
47 Million Uninsured: What is the Truth? – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/47-million-uninsured-what-is-the-truth/
Massachusetts has highest health insurance premiums . . . model for U.S. ? – http://realhealthreform.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/massachusetts-has-highest-health-insurance-premiums-model-for-u-s/
Who Are The Uninsured? – http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/18/who_are_the_uninsured_97934.html
Who Are The Uninsured? A Consistent Profile Across National Surveys – http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7553.pdf
WHO ARE THE UNINSURED AND SHOULD WE PAY TO COVER THEM? – http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/08/024280.php
QUICK FACTS ON THE UNINSURED – http://covertheuninsured.org/content/quick-facts-uninsured
EDITORIAL: Who are the uninsured? A closer look at the 46 million reasons for ObamaCare – http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/25/who-are-the-uninsured/
The Uninsured in America – http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/health/uninsured/whoaretheuninsured.html
Poor education = poor health – http://benkazie.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/poor-education-poor-health/
New State-by-State Report Shows Gaps in Health Strongly Linked to Education Levels - http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=42418
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Massachusetts has highest health insurance premiums . . . model for U.S. ? August 25, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health insurance reform, health reform.Tags: access, affordable health insurance, CMS, Congress, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health Insurance exclusions, health insurance reform, health news, health plans, health reform, healthcare, Hospitals, House of Representatives, Insurance, insurance access, insurance benefits, mandated health coverage, Medicaid, medical care access, Medicare, news, patient care, patients, personal health responsibility, physician behavior, physician payment, Physicians, politics, pre existing conditions, President, President of the United States, Senate, underinsured, uninsured
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Massachusetts found out that expanding coverage was relatively easy, sort of. Paying for it is not. Why? Because a large number of the uninsured have significant illness and often suffer from serious compliance issues when it comes to medical care as well as lifestyle choices. The Massachusetts experiment in extension of health coverage is a lesson for the nation as a whole. Lacking some personal mandate for personal responsibility, costs will escalate beyond control, and the only option will be rationing. So called de facto rationing does occur currently. But that is an issue only if one assumes that access to equal health care choices is a right of all. Many do not feel this to be the case. Currently all do have access to basic care, if only via emergency room doctors and nurses. Expansion of the pool of health providers will ease these burdens somewhat, but will not make up the difference if coverage is extended to all. In the end, federal bean counters will do what they always do, cut expenditures to those individuals and entities on the front lines providing the care that they wish to take credit for providing and attempt to limit choices of those covered. That is why it is essential that America maintain a vibrant private health insurance industry as well as robust private health care system. Government control is never the best outcome. Our plan has from day one offered common sense regulatory oversight coupled with maintenance of a vigorous free market. The Congress would do well to consider our proposals as the debate a compromise . . . obi jo and jomaxx
Rein in health costs, Massachusetts urged
Massachusetts has the most expensive family health insurance premiums in the country, according to a new analysis that highlights the state’s challenge in trying to rein in medical costs after passage of a landmark 2006 law that mandated coverage for nearly everyone.
The report by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit health care foundation, showed that the average family premium for plans offered by employers in Massachusetts was $13,788 in 2008, 40 percent higher than in 2003. Over the same period, premiums nationwide rose an average of 33 percent.
The report did not break out how much premiums have increased in Massachusetts since the 2006 changes went into effect, so it does not show whether the law affected the rate of price increases. Still, with the state’s law often cited as a model for a national health care overhaul, advocates on various sides of the issue said the report underscores the urgency of including cost controls in any large-scale federal or state overhaul.
While expanding coverage was the logical first step in Massachusetts, cost control is equally as important,’’ said Andrew Dreyfus, an executive vice president at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the state’s largest private insurer with 3 million members. “And if you don’t face the cost issue directly, then you can jeopardize the progress you’ve made in expanding coverage.’’
President Obama has championed a national health care overhaul that includes cost controls, as well as coverage expansion to nearly every American. But critics have questioned some of his administration’s projected savings, and his proposal for a public insurance plan to compete with private insurers is faltering in Congress.
In Massachusetts, brokering the 2006 overhaul was such a delicate and years-long undertaking that the disparate interest groups – insurers, businesses, consumers, hospital and doctors organizations – all agreed to first tackle health coverage expansion and leave the cost question for a later date.
Bay State health insurance premiums highest in country – http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/08/22/bay_state_health_insurance_premiums_highest_in_country/
www.commonwealthfund.org
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QUICK POST: Colleges mandating health insurance coverage for students August 25, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health insurance, health reform.Tags: access, affordable health insurance, colleges, Congress, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health insurance reform, health news, health plans, health reform, healthcare, Hospitals, Insurance, insurance access, insurance benefits, mandated health coverage, medical care access, personal health mandates, personal health responsibility, Physicians, President, Senate, students
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This is just common sense. Colleges are making a smart choice to require student insurance, either under existing plan from their parents or under plans administered by the universities themselves. All colleges and universities should follow this lead . . . as should the federal government in creating an individual mandate for health insurance coverage, as we have proposed from day one in our plan . . . obi jo
Colleges, states taking steps to ensure students have health coverage
College students typically see themselves as healthy and immortal, but students are injured or become ill and the medical costs without insurance can mean starting your life saddled with debt far higher than just tuition. Most college students — 67%, according to a 2008 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office — have health coverage under a parent’s employer-based plan. That may be changing. With the increase in premiums and the loss of jobs for some parents and the insurance that comes with it, that percentage could be lower for the 2009-2010 academic year. But having insurance is sometimes non-negotiable. According to the GAO report, about 30% of colleges required students to have health insurance for the 2007-08 academic year . . .
College students should make sure they have coverage – http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-yourmoney24-2009aug24,0,2289346.story
Standards for Student Health Insurance/Benefits Programs – http://www.acha.org/info_resources/stu_health_ins.pdf
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QUICK POST: Senate negotiations continue August 25, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health reform.Tags: Congress, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance reform, health reform, healthcare, House of Representatives, news, politics, President of the United States, Senate, underinsured, uninsured
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Hard to see compromise coming out of this bunch . . . obi jo
The Senate Finance Committee contiues bipartisan negotiations during the August congressional recess in an attempt to reach an agreement on health system reform legislation. Committee Chair Max Baucus, D-Montana, has stated his hope of reaching consensus on the legislation by Sept. 15, although there are signs that this goal may slip. It is unclear how Baucus and the Democratic leadership will proceed if an agreement is not reached by then.
Potentially complicating those negotiations, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, the minority whip, recently spoke out against the idea of nonprofit insurance cooperatives, which some committee members favor as an alternative to establishing a public plan to compete with private health insurers.
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Physician Fees Excessive? Doubtful. August 13, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in Physicians, health reform.Tags: affordable health insurance, Congress, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health Insurance exclusions, health insurance reform, health networks, health news, health plans, health reform, Hospitals, House of Representatives, Insurance, insurance access, insurance benefits, Insurance Profits, Medicaid, medical care access, Medicare, news, out of network, out of network physicians, patient care, patients, personal health responsibility, physician behavior, physician payment, physician payments, Physicians, political news, politics, President, President of the United States, Senate, underinsured, uninsured
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The survey cited below lists outrageous examples of billing from physicians and surgeons. There are several comments to be made about this.
* First, all physicians who accept Medicare and Medicaid are paid by those payers exactly what Medicare and Medicaid dictate. Not more, regardless of the amount charged.
* Second, almost all private insurers, if a doctor is approved by them, are paid exactly what those private health insurers and plan dictate. Not more, regardless of the amount of charged.
* Third, it is true, that if patients go “out of plan” to physicians, surgeons or facilities that are not approved, their health insurance will most likely pay not more than the standard rate, and in many cases they pay less precisely to incentives subscribers (patients) to stay in a contracted network of providers and facilities.
* Fourth, in cases where patients have willfully gone out of plan on their own, they must realize that they may well be liable for the entire charge from the physician, surgeon or facility. That is a fact and they should be aware of that going in – the old adage, ‘let the buyer beware’ – would be well to remember here. All health insurers and plans routinely warn their subscribers about this.
* Fifth, in many of the cases cited, the billings are displayed to reflect their over charge versus Medicare, as opposed to Medicare’s underpayment as compared to the market based rates. It is not at all uncommon for charges to be 2 or 3 fold higher than Medicare rates, as Medicare, on average, pays about 35% of the market rates charged for physician and surgeon services. For hospital services the rate is closer to 25% and for Medicaid the percentages in almost all states are even worse. In NO case should these charges be considered over charges. It is a fact that private health insurers have been following Medicare and Medicaid rates for decades. So while they underpay the vast majority of legitimate providers, their CEO’s and executives get outrageous bonuses and salaries.
* Sixth, in cases where charges are truly egregious, those physicians and surgeons should be reported to the state medical society, state medical board, local county medical boards and society, as well as the medical staff organization of the facility where a procedure was performed. Additionally, consumers can report what is felt to be an exorbitant charge to the Better Business Bureau, State Attorney General’s Office and the like. Physicians, surgeons and facilities that take advantage of the public should be scorned as they are not acting within the professional standards endorsed by all mainstream, recognized, legitimate medical organizations.
In the end, we have many issues to address, but this study, while helpful in some respects, is really designed to attempt to lay blame for lack of health insurance coverage elsewhere, when it fact it is clear that underwriting practices by health insurers and health plans are to blame for a large portion of the issues related to the uninsured and underinsured . . . jomaxx
Survey Finds High Fees Common in Medical Care so says survey sponsored by America’s Health Insurance Plans
A survey sponsored by America’s Health Insurance Plans in which insurers were asked for some of the highest bills submitted to them in 2008. The group, which represents 1,300 health insurance companies, said it had no data on the frequency of such high fees, saying that to its knowledge no one had studied that. But it said it did the survey in part to defend against efforts by the Obama administration to portray certain industry practices as a major part of the nation’s health care problems.
The health insurers, saying they felt unfairly vilified, gave the report to The New York Times before posting it online on Tuesday, explaining that they wanted to show that doctors’ fees are part of the health care problem.
The group said it had used Medicare payments for comparison because Medicare was so familiar and payments are, on average, about 80 percent of what private insurers pay.
But Dr. Robert M. Wah, a spokesman for the American Medical Association, said there was another side to the story: insurers’ low payments to doctors who enter into contracts with them and the doctors’ difficulties, in many cases, in getting paid at all. That is why, he said, doctors may simply abandon insurance plans. Then patients end up with extra fees because they have to go outside their networks.
Survey Finds High Fees Common in Medical Care – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/health/policy/12insure.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
The Value of Provider Networks And the Role of Out-of-Network Charges In Rising Health Care Costs: A Survey of Charges Billed By Out-of-Network Physicians – http://www.ahipresearch.org/ValueofProviderNetworksSurvey.html
THE VALUE OF PROVIDER NETWORKS AND THE ROLE OF OUT-OF-NETWORK CHARGES IN RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS:
A SURVEY OF CHARGES BILLED BY OUT-OF-NETWORK PHYSICIANS – http://www.ahipresearch.org/PDFs/ValueSurvey/AllStatesReport.pdf
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47 Million Uninsured: What is the Truth? August 9, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health insurance, uninsured.Tags: affordable health insurance, AMA, CMS, Congress, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health insurance reform, health news, health plans, health reform, healthcare, Hospitals, House of Representatives, Medicaid, medical care access, Medicare, news, patient behavior, patient care, personal health mandates, personal health responsibility, Physicians, politics, President, President of the United States, Senate, underinsured, uninsured
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The number with insurance in the United States rose from 249.8 million to 253.4 million
It would seem that this number is totally missing from the debate. In contrast our Canadian neighbors have a population of just over 33 million (July 2008 estimate). The United Kingdom can boast a 2009 estimated population of about 61.5 million. Unless we are missing something, those numbers are a far cry from the 250 million plus that have health coverage in the United States. Well what about France, a country some say has the best healthcare in the world, well they are estimated to have (as of January 2009) just over 65 million citizens. Germany has over 82 million (December 31, 2008 estimate).
Based on the most recent data then, the United States has more individuals covered by health insurance than the combined entire populations of Canada, England, Germany and France. This is a health care crisis? Hardly. We have advocated repeatedly common sense reforms that can address much of the issue regarding those without insurance as well as common sense regulation that can achieve much of what is REALLY needed. Real Health Reform remains within our grasp, but much of the contents of House bill 3200 are ideologically driven social engineering without any basis.
We again call on the Senate to exercise is wisdom in greatly modifying its positions in order to achieve meaningful, common sense, sustainable, Real Health Reform . . . obi jo
47 Million Uninsured: Truth or Propaganda?
President Barack Obama claims there are 47 million Americans without health insurance. A simple check with the U.S. Census Bureau would have told him otherwise.
The President said: “This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance.” That assertion conflicts with data in the Census Bureau report “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007.” The report was issued in August 2008 and contains the most up-to-date official data on the number of uninsured in the U.S. The report discloses that there were 45.65 million people in the U.S. who did not have health insurance in 2007.
However, it also reveals that there were 9.73 million foreigners — foreign-born non-citizens who were in the country in 2007 — included in that number. So the number of uninsured Americans was actually 35.92 million. And of those, 9.1 million people making more than $75,000 per year did not choose to purchase health insurance. That brings the number of Americans who lack health insurance presumably for financial reasons down to less than 27 million.
The Census Bureau report also shows that the number of people without insurance actually went down in 2007 compared to the previous year — from 47 million to 45.65 million — while the number with insurance rose from 249.8 million to 253.4 million. The next Census Bureau report disclosing health insurance data, with 2008 numbers, is scheduled to be released in August, and could figure in the healthcare reform debate.
Part of the apparent over-counting of the uninsured in the Census data is likely due to a serious undercounting of Medicaid enrollees. While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported Medicaid enrollment of 51 million in 2002, the Census reported only 33 million, a difference of 18 million people. This trend continues in 2003 with a .7 percentage point increase in Medicaid enrollment by the Census Bureau, putting that number at 35 million, but CMS reports 53 million enrollees. This discrepancy is, to say the least, problematic.
So what can we say about this number, that seems to have been accepted on face value without any critical analysis.
The Census Bureau data is misleading. The Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) is a misleading measure of those who lack health insurance in America and an imprecise tool for analyzing the dimensions of the problem. Analysis of data from earlier Census Bureau and other government reports shows that roughly 7 million are illegal immigrants; roughly 9 million are persons on Medicaid; 3.5 million are persons already eligible for government health programs; and approximately 20 million have, or live, in families with incomes greater than twice the federal poverty level, or $41,300 for a family of four.
Most of the uninsured are in and out of health coverage. The professional literature also shows that, overwhelmingly, the vast majority of the uninsured are persons who are in and out of coverage, largely as a result of job changes. Only a small number of the uninsured are chronically uninsured. For most of the uninsured, the problem is fixable if policymakers simply take steps to make health insurance portable, so the insurance policy sticks to the person, not the job.
Current Federal Tax Policy Fuels Uninsurance. A substantial portion of uninsured Americans are not poor but rather middle-class working Americans who are forced to face a major tax penalty, resulting in premium increases of 40 to 50 percent, if they do not obtain health insurance through the place of work. For millions of Americans without job based health insurance, both the tax policy, and the excessive regulatory burden on health insurance in the states, prices families out of coverage. Current federal tax policy then unnecessarily drives millions into the ranks of the uninsured.
So, let’s get inside those rough numbers. Who tends to be uninsured?
They tend to be younger, with those most likely to be uninsured between ages 19 and 24. Almost all adults age 65 and above are covered primarily by Medicare, and many of them have supplemental private insurance. Men are a little bit more likely to be uninsured. Married individuals and persons with more than a high school education are much more likely to be insured. Most of the uninsured (88 percent) are in good to excellent health. The likelihood of being insured rises with income and full-time work status, although nearly half (47%) of the uninsured are full-time workers. Hispanics are considerably more likely than those in any other ethnic category to be uninsured (over 30%). More than a 25% of the uninsured are foreign-born. By Census Bureau estimates, about 10 million uninsured are not citizens and half of them are illegal immigrants.
Canada’s population clock – http://www.statcan.gc.ca/edu/clock-horloge/edu06f_0001-eng.htm
What is the current population of England? – http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_current_population_of_England
Federal Statistical Office of Germany – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Statistical_Office_of_Germany
France – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France
Uninsured count jumps to 47 million – http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/09/17/gvl10917.htm
The Census Bureau data is misleading.- http://www.heritage.org/Press/NewsReleases/nr082807a.cfm
Obama Falsely Claims There Are 47 Million Uninsured Americans - http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51443
What DO We Know About the Uninsured? – http://www.american.com/archive/2008/july-august-magazine-contents/what-do-we-know-about-the-uninsured
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QUICK POST: Medical device liability law examined in Senate August 9, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in Public Health.Tags: Congress, health, health care reform, health news, healthcare, House of Representatives, liability, medical devices, Medtronic, news, outcomes, patient care, patients, political news, politics, pre-market approval, Supreme Court, unsafe devices
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Foes and advocates of changing liability laws for certain medical devices squared off Tuesday in a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. The groups debated whether Congress should try to reverse an eight-to-one US Supreme Court decision handed down in February 2008 in Riegel v. Medtronic, Inc, which held that the Medical Devices Amendment of 1976 allows the most risky medical devices – those that gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration in the pre-market approval process – to gain immunity from liability lawsuits in state courts. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) said the decision has meant complete immunity from lawsuits for corporations that endanger consumers with unsafe devices. However, William Maisel, a cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and founder of the Medical Device Safety Institute said that a manufacturer must demonstrate reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness to gain FDA approval.
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QUICK POST: Obama Pushes Democrats for Unity on Health Plan August 9, 2009
Posted by Obi Jo in health reform.Tags: affordable health insurance, health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, health insurance access, health Insurance exclusions, health insurance reform, health news, health plans, health reform, healthcare, Hospitals, House of Representatives, Insurance, insurance access, insurance benefits, Insurance Profits, mandated health coverage, Medicaid, medical care access, Medicare, news, patient care, political news, politics, President, President of the United States
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President Obama urged Democratic senators on Tuesday to persevere in trying to get a bipartisan deal on health care, but left open the possibility that they might have to pass a bill with only Democratic votes if Republicans stood in the way.
At lunch with Democrats at the White House, Mr. Obama vowed to respond to Republican attacks on his plan, which aims to guarantee insurance for all Americans while slowing the explosive growth of health costs.
When Democratic leaders left the meeting, they gave an upbeat account of the lunch, where they joined the president in celebrating his 48th birthday with a chocolate cake.
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said there was “absolute unity” among members of the normally fractious Democratic conference.
Obama Pushes Democrats for Unity on Health Plan – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/health/policy/05health.html?_r=1&ref=us
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