Healthcare-NOW

Strike Debt Abolishes $1.1 Million of Medical Debt

By Allison Kilkenny for the Nation – Strike Debt, a group that emerged from the Occupy Wall Street movement, has planned a week of actions in multiple cities across the country to mark the abolition of $1.1 million in medical debt belonging to 1,064 people as part of the “Rolling Jubilee” project. While that may…

“Protect our Health, Not Their Wealth” Rally in Albany

Wednesday, March 20 – 60 people rallied in front of Albany Medical Center under the banner, “Protect OUR Health, Not THEIR Wealth.” Speakers and protesters called for “No Grand Bargain” – Hands off Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid,” “Scrap the Cap on Social Security,” “Oppose Privatization of our Public Hospitals and Nursing Homes,” and “Single…

States Urged to Expand Medicaid With Private Insurance

From the New York Times – The White House is encouraging skeptical state officials to expand Medicaid by subsidizing the purchase of private insurance for low-income people, even though that approach might be somewhat more expensive, federal and state officials say. Ohio and Arkansas are negotiating with the Obama administration over plans to use federal…

Health Insurers Warn on Premiums

From the Wall St. Journal – Health insurers are privately warning brokers that premiums for many individuals and small businesses could increase sharply next year because of the health-care overhaul law, with the nation’s biggest firm projecting that rates could more than double for some consumers buying their own plans. The projections, made in sessions…

Research ties economic inequality to gap in life expectancy

By Michael A. Fletcher for the Washington Post – ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — This prosperous community is the picture of the good and ever longer life — just what policymakers have in mind when they say that raising the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare is a fair way to rein in the…

Single-Payer Would Save PA $17 Billion Annually

Health Care for All PA, a statewide non-profit organization today released an economic impact study. The results prove that a single-payer health care plan will save families, businesses and tax payers $17 billion annually while at the same time providing comprehensive health care to all. This study was done by University of Massachusetts – Amherst…

Horror Care: How Private Health Care Is Shortening Our Lives

By Paul Buchheit for Common Dreams – Steven Brill's article in Time Magazine about the cost of private health care is likely to make most of his readers very angry. Angry about the prices we pay, about the lives that are devastated, and about the fact that we're one of the few developed countries without…

Winning Medicare for All? “I Like Our Chances”

Despite insights, Time magazine’s cover story falls short on remedy By James Kahn for Common Dreams – In his recent Time magazine article, Steven Brill paints a vivid and rather depressing picture of the perverse malfunctioning of our health care system – overpriced and technology-addicted – and he acknowledges some of the advantages of Medicare.…

How the Insurer Knows You Just Stocked Up on Ice Cream and Beer

By Jen Wieczner for the Wall Street Journal – Your company already knows whether you have been taking your meds, getting your teeth cleaned and going for regular medical checkups. Now some employers or their insurance companies are tracking what staffers eat, where they shop and how much weight they are putting on—and taking action…

Why Workers Should Be Wary About Corporate Wellness

By Steve Early for the Nation – A growing number of US companies are now urging their employees to slim down, exercise more, reduce their cholesterol and blood pressure levels, or quit smoking—all socially desirable goals. But if these workers fail to cooperate with the new corporate “wellness” regime and adopt a healthier lifestyle (under…