Expanding insurance coverage is important, experts say, but only half the battle. For many Americans, particularly in rural areas, access to high quality health care could remain elusive.
Insurance denial continued: Now we have the case of Peggy Robertson, a woman who was denied coverage because of a prior C-section and told to get sterilized, and then her son was denied coverage for holding his breath, and for being too small.
Is the fact that women experience discrimination in regards to health insurance coverage even debatable at this point? It is critical at this point that health reform discussions must address the health issues that disproportionately affect women in this country.
Even as opponents of health reform use the specter of “losing your employer-based coverage” under a public option, many busineses are in fact planning to cut coverage without any health reform in place. Meanwhile, after months of closed door meetings the Senate Finance committee releases a bill with not one Republican co-sponsor. And Operation Rescue tells its supporters it is “broke.”
On abortion–or any other issue being addressed under health reform–the “common ground” solution is to let the experts — not politicians — decide what services should be covered.
During a strategy call with key congressional leaders last week, President Obama reportedly complained that liberal advocacy groups are attacking Democrats instead of trying to pass whatever healthcare bill the Senate happens to cough up.
During a press conference Tuesday, President Obama voiced support for government-administered health insurance for all who need it as a key component of healthcare reform.
Besides harming women and their families, gender rating — charging women more for health insurance on the individual market — hurts society as a whole.
Has the health insurance industry seen the writing on the wall — or will their “cooperation” ultimately undermine Obama’s reform program?
Insurance companies would be happy to end their discrimination against women, their industry CEO says — in return for a pledge from Congress that it will require every American to have health insurance, and that it won’t create a public option.
