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Health reform has been a prominent feature in this election. The following links offer information and side-by-side comparisons of Senator Obama’s and Senator McCain’s health proposals. Senator Barack Obama’s Proposal Senator John McCain’s Proposal Kaiser Family Foundation: Compare the Candidates Side-by-Side Families USA The Urban Institute Analysis of Senator McCain’s Proposal Analysis of Senator Obama’s [...]
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“Merging the Markets: Combining New York’s Individual and Small Group Markets into Common Risk Pools” –a new report released by the United Hospital Fund (“UHF”)–explores the impact of merging the markets for three insurance products: (1) direct pay (individual, non-employer insurance); (2) Healthy New York (a limited benefit HMO product subsidized by the State for certain low-wage [...]
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A new FamiliesUSA report “Premiums versus Paychecks” indicates good health care coverage is unaffordable to individuals and families. Health insurance premiums for families rose by 80.7%, while median wages rose by only 11% between 2000 and 2007. For family coverage in NY, the average annual premium increased from $5,721 to $12,811 (employer and worker share combined). [...]
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In a letter to Gov. David Paterson, CSS’s President, David Jones, urged the State to respond to these economically difficult times by providing vital health coverage for New York’s displaced workers. Arguing that the current economy is as harsh as what New York faced in 2001, Jones specifically asked the State to radically streamline the [...]
Filed under: New York Health Reform | 1 Comment »
The latest Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll: Election 08 shows that health care has increased in importance to independent voters. One in four registered, independent voters state that health care is an issue they would “most like to hear candidates talk about.” In comparison, the importance of health care to Democratic voters has stayed about the same (25%) [...]
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The Health Care For America Now (“HCAN!”)–a national reform effort with a strong grassroots base in New York–is organizing a door-to-door effort to inform voters where their federal representatives stand in the health reform debate. HCAN! wants to recruit volunteers to help with this effort. If you are in an area that needs volunteers please [...]
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HCFANY applauds Governor Paterson’s veto last week of two industry-backed insurance “reform” bills. that would only serve to undermine New York’s continued commitment to high quality health care. The two bills–Senate Bill 8357 (the “young invincibles” bill) and Assembly Bill 395 (the EZ Pass for HealthyNY)–would have favored health insurance products that inadequate benefit packages [...]
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The New York State Departments of Health and Insurance will be holding a joint-hearing tomorrow (10/07) in Albany. The hearing will feature testimony from consumers and advocates on “surprise” bills, or bills consumers get when they follow all the rules to get in-network health coverage, but are seen unknowingly by an out-of-network provider, for example, [...]
Filed under: New York Health Reform | 1 Comment »
A new study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change finds that 57 million families have trouble paying medical bills–an increase of 14 million people since 2003. Half of the families studied have a debt of $1,903. Although, the overall rate of medical bill problems is far higher for uninsured individuals, the study [...]
Filed under: New York Health Reform | 1 Comment »
On November 17, 2008, the New York State Health Foundation (“NYSHF”) is hosting a conference: “Reforming New York’s Individual Insurance Market.” Advocates, consumers, insurers, policymakers, researchers, and providers are encouraged to attend. For more information and registration details, please see: New York State Health Foundation conference.
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