Lawmakers are becoming more and more plugged in to the fact that health care and health insurance reform are issues that the American people are extremely concerned about. The unusually large amount of attention and legislation in 2008 supports that fact. As more and more are losing their health care coverage due to continued increases in deductibles, skyrocketing prescriptions and insurance premiums, Congress is likely to act in 2009, according to the consensus recently at a Washington DC health care forum sponsored by two non-partisan groups.
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), himself being treated for a brain tumorr, recently gave up his seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee in order to focus on health care, stating that it was "the opportunity of a lifetime" to finally get a plan enacted. Speaking at the forum, John McDonough, a health care aide to Kennedy stated that the Senator is committed to achieving reform and is very confident of its ability to pass.
The Republican Health Policy Director for the Senate Finance Committee, Charles Clapton stated that there was strong Republican support for getting the plan done, but that money is constricted by over a trillion dollar deficit. There would be competition for the funding, but with a system wherein private plans were delivering the benefits, we would see the most innovation. Similarly, Dr. Mark L. Hayes, the GOP Advisor for Health Policy on the Senate Finance Committe stressed the necessity for bipartisanship if a bill is to get passed, and that waiting 15 years to enact a plan will cause severe problems as opposed to solving the problem now.
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)'s aide Jocelyn Moore also spoke up at the forum. She stressed that the issues of skyrocketing unnecessary spending, effective preventative care, and affordability should be addressed in the development of a sweeping reform plan. She stated that all options are on the table and that Senator Rockefeller is eager to get started working with the Congressional leadership and the new Administration to accomplish the goal of comprehensive health care reform.
The importance of health care and insurance is not likely to wane any time soon. With employers shedding nearly 1.2 million jobs in November and December alone, the unemployed are likely to be forced to drop any existing health care coverage they currently have out of financial necessity. Hopefully Congress will find a way to put aside differences and pass an acceptable verson of comprehensive universal health care coverage in 2009.
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), himself being treated for a brain tumorr, recently gave up his seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee in order to focus on health care, stating that it was "the opportunity of a lifetime" to finally get a plan enacted. Speaking at the forum, John McDonough, a health care aide to Kennedy stated that the Senator is committed to achieving reform and is very confident of its ability to pass.
The Republican Health Policy Director for the Senate Finance Committee, Charles Clapton stated that there was strong Republican support for getting the plan done, but that money is constricted by over a trillion dollar deficit. There would be competition for the funding, but with a system wherein private plans were delivering the benefits, we would see the most innovation. Similarly, Dr. Mark L. Hayes, the GOP Advisor for Health Policy on the Senate Finance Committe stressed the necessity for bipartisanship if a bill is to get passed, and that waiting 15 years to enact a plan will cause severe problems as opposed to solving the problem now.
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)'s aide Jocelyn Moore also spoke up at the forum. She stressed that the issues of skyrocketing unnecessary spending, effective preventative care, and affordability should be addressed in the development of a sweeping reform plan. She stated that all options are on the table and that Senator Rockefeller is eager to get started working with the Congressional leadership and the new Administration to accomplish the goal of comprehensive health care reform.
The importance of health care and insurance is not likely to wane any time soon. With employers shedding nearly 1.2 million jobs in November and December alone, the unemployed are likely to be forced to drop any existing health care coverage they currently have out of financial necessity. Hopefully Congress will find a way to put aside differences and pass an acceptable verson of comprehensive universal health care coverage in 2009.
About the Author:
With individual health insurance costs skyrocketing, it is difficult to know how to find the best answers without knowing where to look. The professionals at www.GoHealthInsurance.com offer an extensive library of information regarding health insurance.
0 comments
Post a Comment