Congress is taking a close look at a class-action lawsuit led by individuals who claim that their health insurance companies have unfairly dropped their coverage after they began submitting claims for serious illnesses. Many health insurance companies practice rescission- the practice of canceling an individual health insurance policy after it has been approved, often paid into […]

While lightning storms can happen any time of year the summer months are when they are at their peak frequency. The National Weather Service is hosting Lightning Safety Week from June 21st- June 27th to educate children and adults alike about the dangers of lightning and how to prevent injuries and damage. For children’s lightning […]

Lloyd Baum loved politics. I believe he spent time in Chicago, which might explain this passion. He loved public policy, especially health care reform, not surprising since he was a health insurance broker. You might disagree with Lloyd, but you couldn’t disregard his sincerity, his commitment and his desire to do the right thing. I’ve […]

So much for common ground on health care reform in the United States Senate. It wasn’t that long ago, May 30th to be exact, that Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus and Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Edward Kennedy issued a joint statement that read, “”For both of us, reforming the nation’s health […]

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee worked hard to produce a final draft of its health care reform legislation before Congress adjourned for the July 4th holiday. It made substantial progress, but failed to complete work some key elements, including those related to a government-run health plan and a requirement that employers obtain […]

President Barack Obama wants health care reform. He sincerely believes we need to fix what’s broken in the current system because it is the right thing to do and as a necessary step to get America’s economy moving forward again. He has put forward what elements he wants to see as part of comprehensive reform package, […]

The legislative process is like Kabuki Theater. Very stylized. Clear-cut characters. Starts off slow, proceeds through several acts, ends fast and furious. The Congressional tussle over health care reform is no exception. We have the champions of the left and right pounding across the stage, striking poses, shouting out their predictable lines, scaring the bejeebies (whatever […]

So many health care reform proposals are flying around the nation’s capital it’s nearly time to bring in the air traffic controllers. There are draft bills, option papers, proposals, outlines, and about any other kind of document you can name whirling around like jets over O’Hare. Michael Johnson of Blue Shield of California and I gave a […]

There’s a chicken and egg aspect to health care reform which often frustrates lawmakers and policy makers. To achieve universal coverage the cost of health insurance must be affordable. To make coverage affordable you need universal coverage. So which comes first? My take is that affordability has to come first. You cannot require people to […]