California Reform
California’s MRMIP is Failing
Friday, October 31st, 2008A Shrinking Program to Insure the Uninsurable in California
Working people who have health problems and don’t get insurance from their employer fall into a gaping hole in our system: They don’t qualify for government-backed insurance for the poor, but their health problems make them uninsurable on the open market.
Lots of states have special programs to […]
Who Will REALLY Pay For California Health Care Reform?
Friday, December 21st, 2007Jason Shifrin at Healthcare Economist gets it right!
**********************
On
Monday, the California Assembly passed a bill that mandates health
insurance for all California’s citizens. The government will provide
subsidies households with incomes below 250 percent of the federal
poverty level. Those earning between 250 percent and 400 percent of the
federal poverty level [FPL] would be able to deduct premium costs […]
Bigtime Pork in California Health Reform Bill
Thursday, December 20th, 2007Remember when I wrote about how Assembly Speaker Fabien Nunez was horse-trading the health care of California children in order to stay in power longer?
How he was swapping votes on health reform for changes in term limits because “King Nunez” was close to being “term-limited” right out of his cushy job as Speaker?
Here’s some more […]
Health Care Reform Still Clinging To Life
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007There’s a dark and devious deal being hammered out in Sacramento.
On one side, Speaker Fabiam Nunez appears to be working hard on a new health care plan. What’s dark and devious about that? We all know the current system is broken.
In politics, there are always trade-offs. So if Nunez really is working for health care, […]
Schwarzenegger announces confused funding model for health care reform
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives more detail on how he plans to fund his health care reforms. He’s going to use money from the state lottery to fund insurance for the uninsured.
Here’s where it gets tricky. He wants to “lease” operations of the lottery out to a private source, and use […]
Arnold vs. ERISA
Friday, September 28th, 2007Can a state create a mandate that employers must either provide health benefits or pay a fee to the government.Many informed observers say NO!
The Christian Science Monitor explores how ERISA limits states rights (in particular California) when it comes to health care reform and mandating coverage.
The question you will be left with after you finish […]
Employees Paying More For Health Insurance
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007Workers earnings are expected to rise 3.7% in 2007. The Kaiser Family Foundation projects health insurance premiums to rise 6.1%.
Costs are being shifted slowly and surely from the employer to the employee.
The LA Times looks at the KFF survey and presents some interesting numbers.
Workers paying more for coverage
Employees are taking on more of the rising […]
Hospitals agree to tax themselves $1.7 billion, but….
Friday, September 7th, 2007Health insurance reform in California got a huge boost today.
California’s private hospital industry agreed toa $1.7 billion tax on themselves. This sounds altruisticuntil one notices that the plan actually creates a $4 billion dollar pot of money that will be returned to them.
Would you trade $1.7 billion for $4 billion?
Dr. Evil was willing settle for […]
Report Cards for California PPO Plans
Tuesday, August 7th, 2007Here’s some good news from the California Dept of Insurers.
Starting in early 2009, it will issue “report cards” on six of the state’s biggest PPO plans, Aetna Inc., Blue Shield of California, Cigna Corp., Health Net Inc., WellPoint Inc. and UnitedHealth Group.
Right now, patients enrolled in California HMOs already can get quality-of-care and satisfaction ratings […]
3/4 of Californians Support Massive Health Care Reform
Thursday, June 28th, 2007The Sacramento Bee reports on a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Survey: Californians Support Major Change in Health Care
- Sacramento Bee, Opinion, Daniel Weintraub
June 28, 2007
Although
nearly nine out of 10 Californians who have health insurance say they
are satisfied with their coverage, a large majority of voters would
make major changes in the way health care […]
