Healthcare-NOW

Big health insurers to stop selling new child-only policies

Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna Inc. and others say they will make the move as soon as Thursday when parts of the new healthcare law take effect. They cite potentially huge and unexpected costs for insuring children. By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times – Major health insurance companies in California and other states have decided to…

How We’re Acting Upon SB 810

From Single Payer Now! – Last month, Assembly Speaker John Perez (D46) made the decision to prevent SB 810 from going up for a vote. Had he done so, and it passed, SB 810 would have moved through to the Governor’s desk, where Schwarzenegger would have vetoed it, as he has done twice before when…

The Persecution of Kate Barnhart

From Out in New Jersey – DA Prosecuting LGBT Activist with Brain Tumor The sidewalk outside of the Manhattan Criminal Court building was a surreal sea of “Kate.” Supporters in all sizes and shapes donned Kate Barnhart masks, effigies of the selfless and tireless patron of homeless youth and health care activist who is now…

Number of uninsured skyrockets 4.3 million to record 50.7 million in 2009

By PNHP – Official estimates by the Census Bureau showing a dramatic spike of 4.3 million in the number of Americans without health insurance in 2009 – to a record 50.7 million – underscore the urgency of going beyond the Obama administration’s new health law and swiftly implementing a single-payer, improved Medicare-for-all program, according to…

With Caravans and Cabarets Retirees Push for Single Payer

Today, September 13, 2010, Retirees for Single Payer Health Care will meet at 11:30 AM at UAW Local 22 (4300 Michigan Ave.) in Detroit to caravan to the office of Congressman John Dingell in Dearborn where they will demonstrate and seek to win Dingell’s support and co-sponsorship for HR 676, national single payer health care.…

U.S. employers push increase in cost of healthcare onto workers

A new survey shows an average worker with a family plan pays nearly $4,000 a year, up 14% from 2009. Meanwhile, the average employer contribution to a family plan hasn’t increased at all. By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times – As employers struggle with rising healthcare costs and a sour economy, U.S. workers for…

Health reform puts women in harm’s way

By M. Tracey Brooks for the Times Union – The people of New York and the nation should be outraged at the sacrifices being made in health care reform to the detriment of women. After taking a major hit in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in March, women’s health care faced three…

Oregon to Look at Single-Payer Bill Next Session

Advocates for a dedicated tax to pay for basic health coverage want to introduce a single-payer bill next session By David Rosenfeld for The Lund Report – A loose coalition of single-payer advocates in Oregon has taken the first steps toward developing legislation for the 2011 session The bill would ultimately work in conjunction with…

Personal Cost of Current Health Care Policy

By Joan Brunwasser for OpEdNews – My guest today is Lynn Petrovich, a CPA and long-time advocate for universal health care. Welcome to OpEdNews, Lynn. You recently wrote an op ed piece about your own adventures in the health care system, “Hospital Accounting: It’s Complicated.” Up until a family member’s unscheduled visit to a local…

Health Care Advocates Ask Insurance Commissioners: Which Side Are You On?

By the Backbone Campaign – On Monday, August 16, a terrific creative action to challenge the collusion between corporate and elected power was organized by Backbone Campaign’s Roger Fulton with support from Jared Middle Calf and crew. We joined with collaborating Heath Care activists in a great demonstration outside the conference of the National Association…