reform

Health Care Reform Update: June 11, 2010

by Walter Ray Holt

Health Care Reform Debate Alive and Well: Democrats continue to sell their plan for health care reform to Americans in the face of mixed public opinion, simultaneously battling Republicans pushing for its repeal.

Primary elections were held in 11 states this week as lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., to face a growing list of unfinished legislative business including a jobs bill and environmental issues stemming from the Gulf crisis. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama launched a public relations campaign to combat skepticism around his new health care reform legislation and to promote the early implementation of certain provisions of the law.

Health Care Reform Myths Vs. Realities

by Walter Ray Holt

Myth: Higher health care costs are the result of continually rising insurance premiums, inflating the price of health care.

Fact: Just the opposite is true. Because insurance is a means of financing health care, premiums have to track the underlying cost of health care services. Those underlying costs have been rising and insurance premiums have simply kept pace.

April 2010 – Update on the Health Care Reform

by Walter Ray Holt

The new federal health care reform law may change how some consumers access health care and health care coverage. Kaiser Permanente is currently working to interpret and implement changes mandated by the new law in accordance with the schedule outlined by Congress. In some cases,… Read More »April 2010 – Update on the Health Care Reform

New Initiative Addresses Dependent Coverage Gap

by Walter Ray Holt

Just announced: New initiative addresses dependent coverage gap, helps parents keep their adult children covered.

It was announced earlier this week that our parent company is taking steps to prevent a gap in coverage that could leave many young Americans uninsured.

Each year in June, many young people – because of their age, student status or other factors – become ineligible as dependents on their parents’ insurance policies. Health care reform legislation, signed into law last month, will extend dependent coverage to age 26 for plan years beginning September 23, 2010. While this is great news, it also means that many members would face a coverage gap during the months before this provision is fully implemented.