http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/insurance/ en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:45:21 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414376/posts University of Chicago Law Professor Richard A Epstein has brilliantly argued that the Reid bill unconstitutionally turns private health insurers into public utilities. Luckily for those who haven't time to study his detailed argument, he's now summarized it nicely in the Wall Street Journal: "As Harry Reid's 2,000 page health-care bill is being rammed through the Senate, most of the public debate has been focused on its expanded coverage, its now defunct public option, and its high taxes. Lost in the shuffle has been its intensely coercive requirements on health insurance issuers, especially in the individual and small group markets.... The American Thinker Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2414376/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:45:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414162/posts Self-Evident Truths: Sen. Dianne Feinstein says it comes under the Commerce Clause. Rep. Steny Hoyer says it's mandated by the "general welfare" clause. Despite liberal wishes, health care is not a right. The "living Constitution" that Democrats and their court appointees have given us may be the death of our freedoms. Their constitution adapts to the times and serves the whims of the elitists. The Constitution is supposed to limit government powers. It does not allow government to do anything it feels like doing. Cass Sunstein, the head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, is the author of... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414162/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:08:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413792/posts I just saw that the Associated Press released an article entitled "Senate pushes toward passage of health bill" which worries me, troubles me, and should make me afraid. Afraid of what this is going to do to my Christmas and my life, as the Democrats work toward an 8 a.m. deadline on December 24th for all of us to cover the expenses of 30 million uninsured individuals. You see, I'm a regular hard-working American. I'm also an insurance salesman, as well as a writer. I've been selling insurance longer than I've been writing articles, although I've been writing ever since... Examiner.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413792/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:18:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413363/posts If you are not sure what is in the healthcare bill, just ask Wall Street. Following news that the Senate had passed its 2700 page health bill, insurance industry stocks shot up. By 11AM the morning after Harry Reid’s middle of the night vote, the big board showed United Health up 4.31%, Aetna up 5.63% CIGNA up 5.89%, Humana up 4.00%, WellPoint up 3.79%, and Coventry Health up 3.91%. (Information taken from www.fivethirtyeight.com) Main Street Radical http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413363/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:18:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413108/posts GOP Leader: “Senate Democrats Have Sunk to Plenty of New Lows to Jam Through This Government Takeover of Health Care, But Putting Their Votes on the Auction Block Tops Them All.” Washington, Dec 22 - Americans are still combing through all the sweetheart deals Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) made in order to jam through his government takeover of health care on the night before Christmas. To be fair, Washington Democrats are making it easier to sort out this calamity by rushing to take credit for all these payoffs, proving once again how out of touch they are with... Republican leader http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413108/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:48:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412340/posts Regardless of what shape healthcare reform takes, the “system” will still be a victim to immensely costly fraud by providers, sponsors (employers), patients, organized crime and the evolving ethically challenged schemes that fall into white collar crime activity. The main victims of healthcare fraud are sponsors with ongoing increases in premiums that are passed down to their employees, insurers who have to pass this cost back to their sponsors, the government (Medicare/Medicaid) who has to pass this cost back to the tax payer, and any party who has to manage and work in this economy in hidden forms of tax... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412340/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:54:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410997/posts Creeping Socialism: The Political Kudzu of Our Time SWD Another autumn closes and each tree with the distinctive leaf, shape, tone and tint of its individual species adds an inimitable beauty all its own to the forest of which it is a specialized part. The oak is not the elm; the elm is not the ash; nor the ash the maple. A singular splendor unique to each variety sets apart and distinguishes it from every other. Yet in concert, the solitary glory of each enriches the full symphony that is the forest. As any traveler in the South knows, however,... Unpublished editorial http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410997/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:25:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410393/posts Does anyone remember back to when the current healthcare reform initiative began? What were the goals? What were the reasons for the subject even being broached? Progressives and Democrats insisted that the healthcare system was broken because there were millions of people (figures varied, but averaged around 37 million) who were uninsured and that those who had health insurance were subject to continuously rising insurance premiums and diminished coverage. The goal, Progressives and Democrats said, was to provide every American with health insurance and lower healthcare costs for all...all by the end of President Obama’s first term. Today, as we... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410393/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:06:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409553/posts Jim Huber, 59, calls himself "a union dirt guy." He has worked in the same Maryland steel mill for 41 years, where his father and grandfather worked before him and where his son now works, too. Huber makes a base salary of $42,000 per year as an electrician in the plant. He drives a Ford pick-up truck and lives in a row house across the street from the house where he grew up. Although he had hoped to retire from the mill years ago, a bankruptcy at his company slashed his pension by more than half. "It looks I won't... Politics Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409553/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:10:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408329/posts Watch "The Senate Doctors Show." Senator Tom Coburn, M.D., and Senator John Barrasso, M.D., discuss the Democrats' health care reform bill that is being written behind closed doors. They answer questions about how the bill would raise taxes, cut Medicare, and expand Medicaid in a way that would harm state budgets. Senate Republican Conference http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408329/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:21:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405094/posts Unions pressure Democrats on health insurance taxBy Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer Thu Dec 10, 6:15 pm ET WASHINGTON – Union leaders, among the most passionate backers of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, pressed Democratic senators Thursday to drop a tax on high-value insurance plans to pay for remaking the nation's system. Members of several labor unions denounced the proposed tax on so-called "Cadillac plans," arguing it wouldn't just hit CEOs but also middle-class Americans who did without salary increases to negotiate better health benefits. "I support health care reform but I can't afford this tax," Valerie Castle Stanley,... Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405094/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:30:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404557/posts As a small-business owner, I’ve been selecting group health-insurance plans for a quarter century and living, day to day, with the actual impact such choices have had on my company and employees. In observing this process, I’ve come to the conclusion that two simple changes would both significantly increase access to health insurance and make it more affordable: Require insurance companies to offer their group plans to all companies, and require health-care providers to charge all patients the same rates. National Review Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404557/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:42:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404424/posts Searching for an ac ceptable alternative to the controversial "public option," Senate Democrats on Tuesday night adopted three bad ideas instead. Having tried and discarded the "robust" public option, the opt-in and opt-out approaches, co-ops and the "trigger," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid proposed a program similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, which covers government workers, including Congress members. Reid's plan would also expand Medicare and Medicaid. The FEHBP offers a variety of private insurance plans under a program managed by the US Office of Personnel Management. Each year, OPM uses the federal procurement process to solicit bids... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404424/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:05:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403646/posts As U.S. health care costs continue to escalate, Consumer Directed Health Care (CDH) can be a positive force for change that allows patients to gain greater control over their healthcare decisions, allow employers to reduce their healthcare benefit expenditure, enable insurers to increase membership by making more affordable insurance available and provide opportunities for financial institutions to expand their presence in the healthcare industry TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403646/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:51:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402939/posts US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana stated in response to initiatives to move the healthcare reform package onto the debate floor “My vote should in no way be construed by the supporters of this current framework as an indication of how I might vote on the final Bill.” A statement she clarified after securing the receipt of a $300 million dollar bribe for her home state of Louisiana while contributing toward the baby steps in the passage of healthcare reform. Ms. Landrieu, as a twenty year veteran healthcare patient advocate, let me introduce you to one of my patient fall... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402939/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 17:13:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401423/posts WASHINGTON — Americans can't take weekends off from worrying about health care and the Senate shouldn't either, Majority Leader Harry Reid said today as he opened a rare weekend session to debate President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. With Democrats preparing to vote on an amendment targeting tax breaks for insurance executives' pay, Reid lashed out at "greedy health insurance companies" that he said make profits by neglecting consumers' health needs. Reid, D-Nev., called the weekend session as he races the clock to complete action on the 2,000-page remake of the nation's health care system by Christmas. With both sides... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401423/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:06:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401043/posts Faced with an “obesity epidemic“, that has dramatic consequences for medical costs, pundits have proposed different solutions, ranging from excluding obesity from health insurance, government-run prevention campaigns, higher taxes on junk food, or higher premiums for fat people. The possibility of greater government involvement in medicine with the passing of ObamaCare puts this debate in a new light. If the government decides who gets money for medical treatment, the question of whether fat people deserve medical treatment will become a political issue. The question of who "deserves" treatment is only conceivable in a welfare state. In a free, capitalist society,... Tucson Libertarian Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401043/posts#comment Sat, 5 Dec 2009 17:34:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2400400/posts AARP members wake up! Your being sold out by your own organization and their lying to you about the future of Medicare within the structure of the government run health plan. In the past, every time the word "cut" was mentioned with Medicare in Congress, AARP was one of the first groups to weigh in against proposed cuts or changes to the Medicare program. All of that has drastically changed for you. If the Democrats in Congress as well as AARP get their way, you will suffer massive cuts in Medicare and Medicare programs you now enjoy. They will be... The Edisto Joe Outlook http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2400400/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 19:23:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400304/posts Did you know that most of our government programs are managed by an accounting method referred to as the cash method? What it means is that revenue or cash is not recognized until it is received. This presents a huge risk in misrepresenting the picture of an organizations operation and distorts real income. The more appropriate accounting method to realize a true picture of an organizations health is the accrual-based accounting method. This method recognizes income when goods are provided/sold or when a service is rendered. Under the cash method, an expense is recognized when it's paid. Under the accrual... The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400304/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 17:03:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397996/posts This link takes you to multiple articles and videos providing in depth analysis of the current healthcare debate. Videos include Sen. Ron Paul discussing healthcare, Sen. Tom Coburn, experts from the CATO Institute, experts from the Heritage Foundation, and much more. In addition there are a multitude of articles from various papers, columnists, and institutes. The Woodward Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397996/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 23:30:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397472/posts WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats face deep divisions within their ranks as they begin debate Monday on President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, with the recent all-hands-on-deck coalition frayed over abortion and the option of government-run insurance. While majority Democrats will need 60 votes to finish, some in the party say they’ll jump ship from the bill without tighter restrictions on abortion coverage. Others say they’ll go unless a government plan to compete with private insurance companies gets tossed. Such concessions would enrage liberals, the party’s heart and soul. NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397472/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:04:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397027/posts Individual insurance premiums would increase by an average of 10 percent or more, according to an analysis of the Senate healthcare bill. The long-awaited report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) also concluded that subsidies provided by the legislation would make coverage cheaper for those who qualify. The report, issued in the form of a letter to Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), will provide both Democrats and Republicans with ammunition as the Senate begins amending the healthcare bill on Monday. "CBO and JCT estimate that the average premium per person covered (including dependents) for... The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397027/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:54:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2395465/posts ...Mr. Krauthammer makes one small but very important statement with which I disagree. He begins the end of his column with this statement: “Insuring the uninsured is a moral imperative.” Is it? Why? Grand Rants http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2395465/posts#comment Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:20:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393561/posts Since I will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday with a group of relatives, I thought I would take the time to develop a Fact Sheet covering the things they will be dealing with by next Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, most of them are liberals and one I think is a closet DU reader. Hopefully, at least a little education can be accomplished …and… some might even change their minds and call their Congresscritter or Senator. Clearly there may be a big chunk out of their wallet and some really painful health care insurance issues to deal with next year. If nothing else,... Self, www incl heritage.org, etc. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393561/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2393258/posts As a president of Krause Co., I have two primary responsibilities - a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders for best return on their capital, and the health and safety of our employees and families (approximately 600 in total). I have control over our financial performance and should be held accountable, and fortunately we are doing well. In regard to the safety of our direct employees, we too have control and accountability. Krause spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on safety training, equipment, process and procedures. I am proud of our people who take their safety and their peers'... the Hutchinson News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2393258/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:31:12 GMT