Women short-changed in health insurance, Kerry says

[Mass]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/05/women_shortchan.html

Women short-changed in health insurance, Kerry says

Senator John F. Kerry today introduced a bill that would stop insurers from charging women higher premiums, or denying or limiting coverage based on whether they are pregnant.

Kerry cited a September 2008 report by the National Women’s Law Center that found insurance companies can reject applicants for reasons that affect women; that it is difficult and costly for women to find health insurance that covers maternity care; and that women often face higher premiums than men for identical coverage.

“The disparity between women and men in the individual insurance market is just plain wrong and it has to change,” Kerry said in a statement. “With Mother’s Day around the corner, there’s no better gift to American women than discrimination-free, affordable and accessible insurance that meets their health needs.”

Coincidentally, the main health insurer group said today it would end its practice of charging higher premiums to women if all Americans are required to obtain coverage, the industry's latest concession as it tries to stave off the creation of a government plan that would directly compete with private insurers.
...

This legislation is supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Children’s Defense Fund, Consumers Union, Families USA, National Partnership for Women & Families, OWL - The Voice of Midlife and Older Women, and the Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH).

I like the bill, of course, but it is a small step among many small steps, which are a good sign there will not be any constraints on insurance companies planned by Congress in the Healthcare package. Insurance companies are ready for some relatively minor concessions in order to avoid that the package coming from Congress includes a public insurance option, because, as Nelson (NE) said, it would hurt them.

I am bothered that the Senate is not considering the public option -- per Baucus-- . I know Single payer is not an option, but why not authorize people to subscribe to a public option like Medicare. It would be less expensive and force the private insurance to become better. And I am still bothered by the fact Kerry did not make any call to public insurance while 12 other senators did (including fairly conservative ones like Gillibrand or Bingaman). May be he did not got the letter to sign, but this does not prevent him to declare his support to something that makes a big difference for people. Otherwise, a mandate for health insurance is just a bonus for insurance companies.

[Mass]

1. Now, this is a lot better

I have not watched the hearing yet, but this is the type of support that is needed. Make clear the public plan is pushed, because those who want private insurances to keep their monopoly will be strong. Did it happen? I have not seen anything about this.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut/433029/the_battle_for_healthcare_begins

As Dr. Dean noted, the battle for real reform begins Tuesday morning, when Senator Max Baucus chairs a Senate Finance Committee hearing that will look into the public plan option. Activists are writing messages on why such a plan is critical and Senator John Kerry will read some of them into the record at the hearing.
...

[wisteria]

2. Does anyone know if he did read these messages? n/t

[karynnj]

3. This is good.

It is good that Dean is heading an effort on this and nice that he is coordinating with Kerry to get some read into the Finance committee's hearing. I haven't watched that hearing yet as I was watching parts of the AIPAC conference - where Kerry and Biden were good and some of Monday's scary.

[Mass]

4. I am getting more and more amazed by the discussions with some people concerning healthcare.

According to some, we cannot accept anything else than single payer and should fight for it because...

We cannot trust the administration and the Congress to implement a decent public option.

I may be tired this morning but, if we cannot get a decent public option -- when there is a real support for that from the public --, how will we get single payer where the support is not there?

I am worried about the discussions because I do not think at his point we will get a decent public option, but how do we get more if we cannot get less?