Insurance Commissioners Loom Large In Health Law
Voters don’t give much thought to who runs their state department of insurance. And in many places no one can name the person holding this office. But as key provisions of the new federal health law begin to take effect, insurance commissioners will become paramount.
New Health Law Expands High-Risk Coverage
Many states have “last resort” health insurance programs, but they cover few people.
Dental Coverage Cuts Leave California’s Poor In Pain
While the recession may be easing, California and other states across the country continue to face eye-popping budget deficits. As a result, states are cutting deep into public health programs, and dental benefits for Medicaid recipients top the list.
Health Care Pools: Let Youth Jump, Or Push Them?
In drafting national standards on how health insurers should be able to use age to set premium rates, congressional committees agree that older people should pay more. But they differ widely on just how much. Ultimately, it comes down to how many young adults get into the pool.
San Francisco’s Universal Health Care Model
The Healthy San Francisco Plan, the city’s public health plan for the uninsured, has many of the elements currently under consideration in Washington, D.C. It was proposed as a stopgap measure until Congress moved ahead with universal coverage. Now, it’s being heralded as a public option that works and a model for reform.
Canadian Health Care System May Be Getting Bum Rap
The U.S. airwaves are full of political ads these days slamming the Canadian health care system. The ads say that in Canada, care is delayed or denied and some patients can wait a year for vital surgeries. Is the Canadian system really that bad?
