Most Americans understand that our health-care system is not sustainable, and that without significant reform, it is headed for a complete meltdown. Too many people -- 47 million at latest count -- lack health insurance; far too many do not have a regular source of care and use costly emergency rooms for routine care; per-person health-care costs are as much as 250% higher in the U.S. than in any other developed nation; and the quality of care, even for those who are insured, is -- in the words of one recent expert report -- "mediocre at best."
In that context, President Bush is to be commended for making health insurance coverage a top priority for his Administration, and for calling on Congress to address the matter. The President has already demonstrated that he's willing to invest taxpayer dollars in health programs that generate results. Since taking office, he's prodded Congress to expand funding for Community Health Centers, resulting in 5 million more Americans gaining access to affordable primary health-care services.
Dubious Tax Breaks
In his State of the Union address, Bush outlined a roadmap that involves tax deductions for insured individuals and families, designed in part to give the uninsured an incentive to purchase coverage. But it doesn't necessarily chart the right course, and it contains a few too many detours. In other words, you can't get there from here.
Changes in our current system of health care must simultaneously deal with three important elements: cost, quality, and access. Even if we follow through with the President's proposal to change the financing of health care for millions of people, there is little promise for progress on either cost or quality. More worrisome still is that the Administration proposal could unintentionally trigger a serious erosion of current coverage without making health insurance more affordable to those who need it most.
This is because the tax changes proposed could lead both those who presently have adequate coverage and those who may seek coverage to pursue insurance policies that fall within the limits of the proposed tax benefit; the maximum allowable premium is relatively low. Unfortunately, most policies available today in this less expensive category fail to cover crucial preventive and primary health-care services -- the most cost-effective of all health-care services, because they lower the need for specialty care, reduce hospital admissions, and provide a vital, less costly alternative to emergency rooms.
Inadequate Primary Care
More than 6 million of the 16 million patients receiving care at health centers today are completely uninsured. Health centers tell us that they are seeing a new wave of people who are underinsured: those whose health insurance provides little or no coverage for the preventive and primary care the centers offer. Underinsured people often have policies that include very high deductibles -- from more than $1,000 to as high as $5,000 per family member. Such plans leave all of their primary health care uncovered, beyond their meager ability to pay for out-of-pocket expenses.
The waiting room of Lake Superior Community Health Center in northeast Wisconsin offers an on-the-ground perspective on America's ailing health-care system. More than 60% of the health center's patients have incomes at or below the poverty level, and almost three-quarters are uninsured. The demand for affordable primary health-care services is so high that the wait time to see a doctor can stretch to as long as three months.
The tax policies proposed in the President's plan would have, at best, exceedingly limited impact in this rural pocket of America, and would do nothing to shorten the wait to see a doctor. Indeed, the scarcity of affordable primary health-care services is the other half of the health-care debate missing from the halls of leadership. Some 35 million Americans have no access to basic services, even though many of them do have insurance. Coverage without an available provider is as worthless as currency without a marketplace.
Sabotaging the Safety Net
Perhaps the biggest flaw in the President's proposal is that it wagers a risky bid for giving broader flexibility to the states on the backs of safety net providers. The proposal, which likely won't pass muster with Congress, redirects funding that currently flows to safety net providers -- the hospitals that see high volumes of Medicaid and uninsured patients -- to instead fund his new insurance coverage initiatives.
Yet, no matter how successful these initiatives may be, there will continue to be millions of uninsured Americans who will need ongoing care from providers committed to serving them. It does no good to destabilize or decimate the already fragile health-care safety net to address the issue of coverage; the only viable approach lies in attempting to strengthen both.
Medequote
UniCare Sound
Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
State of Illinois House Passes Handwashing Bill
Rep. Mary Flowers wants to clean up Chicago schools—two germy, dirty hands at a time.
Fed up with what she sees as a health hazard for thousands of children, Flowers has introduced legislation that would require Chicago schools to make students wash their hands with antiseptic soap before eating.
The measure passed the Illinois House 100-14 Thursday without any debate. It now goes to the Senate."This is all about a way of life for our children," Flowers ( D-Chicago) said in a recent interview. "It's a public safety issue that needs to be addressed."But school officials and teachers say the measure seems to reflect misplaced priorities at the state capitol. They say teachers are already doing a good job of keeping kids' hands clean for breakfast and lunch.
And one Chicago parent said promoting cleanliness among students would be a good idea, but questioned whether it deserves the attention of state lawmakers."I think they should be focused on the issues," said Mona Van Kenegan, a dentist for a public health clinic at a Chicago high school who has a 7-year-old in a Chicago school.School absences because of sick kids are common, especially in the cold winter months.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 22 million school days are lost nationwide just to the common cold, with some viruses and bacteria able to live for two hours or longer on cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks.Three schools in North Carolina closed for several days last week after an outbreak of flu-like symptoms decimated attendance.
The Illinois Public Health Department doesn't track similar closures here, however, and Flowers offers no specifics about the scope of the problem she's trying to address in Chicago schools.Illinois could be heading into new territory if it approves Flowers' bill. Several federal agencies and advocacy groups say they know of no other state that requires school hand washing by law.
Handwashing For Life, a Libertyville, Ill.-based advocacy group that focuses on restaurant kitchens, says similar proposals have popped up in states such as California and Ohio but nothing was implemented.
Fed up with what she sees as a health hazard for thousands of children, Flowers has introduced legislation that would require Chicago schools to make students wash their hands with antiseptic soap before eating.
The measure passed the Illinois House 100-14 Thursday without any debate. It now goes to the Senate."This is all about a way of life for our children," Flowers ( D-Chicago) said in a recent interview. "It's a public safety issue that needs to be addressed."But school officials and teachers say the measure seems to reflect misplaced priorities at the state capitol. They say teachers are already doing a good job of keeping kids' hands clean for breakfast and lunch.
And one Chicago parent said promoting cleanliness among students would be a good idea, but questioned whether it deserves the attention of state lawmakers."I think they should be focused on the issues," said Mona Van Kenegan, a dentist for a public health clinic at a Chicago high school who has a 7-year-old in a Chicago school.School absences because of sick kids are common, especially in the cold winter months.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 22 million school days are lost nationwide just to the common cold, with some viruses and bacteria able to live for two hours or longer on cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks.Three schools in North Carolina closed for several days last week after an outbreak of flu-like symptoms decimated attendance.
The Illinois Public Health Department doesn't track similar closures here, however, and Flowers offers no specifics about the scope of the problem she's trying to address in Chicago schools.Illinois could be heading into new territory if it approves Flowers' bill. Several federal agencies and advocacy groups say they know of no other state that requires school hand washing by law.
Handwashing For Life, a Libertyville, Ill.-based advocacy group that focuses on restaurant kitchens, says similar proposals have popped up in states such as California and Ohio but nothing was implemented.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Children without health insurance increasing in Illinois
Overweight and inactive children pose one of the most critical health-care challenges in Illinois, according to a report released Monday by the advocacy group Voices for Illinois Children.
But the publication, "Kids Count 2007: The State of Children's Health,'' found good news in the increasing number of Illinois children covered by health insurance.
While 11.3 percent Illinois children lacked coverage in 2002, that number dropped to 10.4 percent in 2005. The rate is expected to drop further with the creation last summer of the All Kids program, a state effort to ensure every child has access to some health insurance, said Jerry Stermer, president of Voices for Illinois Children.
"When children hurt, they cannot learn. When we ignore their sickness and pain, we all pay the price later,'' Stermer said.
The report, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, drew on data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
It assigned grades of good, fair, serious or critical to eight health topics: general child health, early childhood health, developmental and mental health, weight and physical activity, sexual health, death and injuries, environmental and community health, and health coverage and access.
The one area deemed critical was weight and physical activity.
Nearly 46 percent of Illinois' school-age children spend two hours or more each school day watching television or playing video games, the report said. Weight problems are more prevalent among children who are poor or belong to racial or ethnic minorities, according to the report.
For example, half of Illinois youths ages 10 to 17 and living in poverty were found to be overweight or at risk of being overweight, compared to 21.6 percent of youth in higher-income families.
The report was released in a community health clinic located in the neighborhood of Little Village, which has one of the largest Mexican communities in the Midwest.
Despite its large concentration of young people, the neighborhood has just one park. A community effort is underway to raise support for a second one, partly to encourage physical activity among young people there.
The report also raised concerns about a rise in sexually transmitted diseases among young people.
While the number of babies born to teenagers decreased nearly 11 percent from 1999 through 2004, cases of young people being diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea increased nearly 31 percent from 2000 through 2005.
The UniCare Sound health plans are available at Unicare Sound Plans
But the publication, "Kids Count 2007: The State of Children's Health,'' found good news in the increasing number of Illinois children covered by health insurance.
While 11.3 percent Illinois children lacked coverage in 2002, that number dropped to 10.4 percent in 2005. The rate is expected to drop further with the creation last summer of the All Kids program, a state effort to ensure every child has access to some health insurance, said Jerry Stermer, president of Voices for Illinois Children.
"When children hurt, they cannot learn. When we ignore their sickness and pain, we all pay the price later,'' Stermer said.
The report, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, drew on data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
It assigned grades of good, fair, serious or critical to eight health topics: general child health, early childhood health, developmental and mental health, weight and physical activity, sexual health, death and injuries, environmental and community health, and health coverage and access.
The one area deemed critical was weight and physical activity.
Nearly 46 percent of Illinois' school-age children spend two hours or more each school day watching television or playing video games, the report said. Weight problems are more prevalent among children who are poor or belong to racial or ethnic minorities, according to the report.
For example, half of Illinois youths ages 10 to 17 and living in poverty were found to be overweight or at risk of being overweight, compared to 21.6 percent of youth in higher-income families.
The report was released in a community health clinic located in the neighborhood of Little Village, which has one of the largest Mexican communities in the Midwest.
Despite its large concentration of young people, the neighborhood has just one park. A community effort is underway to raise support for a second one, partly to encourage physical activity among young people there.
The report also raised concerns about a rise in sexually transmitted diseases among young people.
While the number of babies born to teenagers decreased nearly 11 percent from 1999 through 2004, cases of young people being diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea increased nearly 31 percent from 2000 through 2005.
The UniCare Sound health plans are available at Unicare Sound Plans
Thursday, February 15, 2007
BCBSIL Proposes Legislative Action
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) today announced a new legislative proposal designed to help hundreds of thousands of the "working uninsured" in the state gain access to health care through affordable health insurance.
The proposal, which requires all private health insurance carriers in the state to participate, would require qualified small businesses with between two and 50 employees - in addition to offering the currently mandated small group insurance coverage - to offer a basic health insurance option tailored to meet their needs.
"This proposal adopts an incremental approach that could have a major impact on a significant segment of our state's uninsured population, and at the same time, reduce uncompensated care," said Paul S. Boulis, BCBSIL president. "And it doesn't disrupt the existing health care system, which serves the 84 percent of Illinoisans who are insured." "One-size-fits-all proposals that totally overhaul the system have not proven to be cost effective," he added.
More than 1.7 million (16 percent) of Illinoisans don't have health insurance Some 16 percent, or more than 1.7 million Illinoisans do not have health insurance - approximately 1.1 million of them are either employed or are family members of the employed. A significant portion of the uninsured works for small businesses.
"Not having health insurance can be detrimental to people's personal and financial health and well-being," said Boulis. "Further, uncompensated care is a burden on individuals, employers, providers and others, because it increases health care costs overall. The proposed legislation would reduce uncompensated care by bringing new resources into the health care system.
"Proposal for "working uninsured" in small businesses While the proposal would require small business owners to offer their employees basic health coverage, it would not require them to contribute to premiums. Those businesses that choose to contribute would be offered state tax credits. Means testing would ensure that people who need this benefit the most, the working uninsured, get it. Employees of businesses that qualify for the program would be guaranteed access to the new benefit option."We're offering a simple proposal that would help the state overall, individuals, small businesses and providers, in addition to the working uninsured," said Boulis. "We call upon members of the Illinois General Assembly to help make this proposal a reality in order to increase access to health care through affordable health coverage."Proposal part of mission"
This proposed legislation is consistent with BCBSIL's mission, which is to provide access to high-quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in the markets it serves. As the largest and one of the oldest providers of health insurance in Illinois, BCBSIL believes its expertise can help inform this dialogue and solve the problem of the state's uninsured population.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoisBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. It began in 1936 as Hospital Service Corporation with the Blue Cross symbol officially adopted in 1939. Currently, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides health insurance coverage for 6.9 million people.
HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
The proposal, which requires all private health insurance carriers in the state to participate, would require qualified small businesses with between two and 50 employees - in addition to offering the currently mandated small group insurance coverage - to offer a basic health insurance option tailored to meet their needs.
"This proposal adopts an incremental approach that could have a major impact on a significant segment of our state's uninsured population, and at the same time, reduce uncompensated care," said Paul S. Boulis, BCBSIL president. "And it doesn't disrupt the existing health care system, which serves the 84 percent of Illinoisans who are insured." "One-size-fits-all proposals that totally overhaul the system have not proven to be cost effective," he added.
More than 1.7 million (16 percent) of Illinoisans don't have health insurance Some 16 percent, or more than 1.7 million Illinoisans do not have health insurance - approximately 1.1 million of them are either employed or are family members of the employed. A significant portion of the uninsured works for small businesses.
"Not having health insurance can be detrimental to people's personal and financial health and well-being," said Boulis. "Further, uncompensated care is a burden on individuals, employers, providers and others, because it increases health care costs overall. The proposed legislation would reduce uncompensated care by bringing new resources into the health care system.
"Proposal for "working uninsured" in small businesses While the proposal would require small business owners to offer their employees basic health coverage, it would not require them to contribute to premiums. Those businesses that choose to contribute would be offered state tax credits. Means testing would ensure that people who need this benefit the most, the working uninsured, get it. Employees of businesses that qualify for the program would be guaranteed access to the new benefit option."We're offering a simple proposal that would help the state overall, individuals, small businesses and providers, in addition to the working uninsured," said Boulis. "We call upon members of the Illinois General Assembly to help make this proposal a reality in order to increase access to health care through affordable health coverage."Proposal part of mission"
This proposed legislation is consistent with BCBSIL's mission, which is to provide access to high-quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in the markets it serves. As the largest and one of the oldest providers of health insurance in Illinois, BCBSIL believes its expertise can help inform this dialogue and solve the problem of the state's uninsured population.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoisBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. It began in 1936 as Hospital Service Corporation with the Blue Cross symbol officially adopted in 1939. Currently, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides health insurance coverage for 6.9 million people.
HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
UniCare Sound Quotes
UniCare Sound Health Insurance Plans have a new home on the internet at www.soundhealthrates.com .
Sound health rates is the new address for the website replacing www.unicaresoundplans.com
Both addresses can take you where you want to go, but www.soundhealthrates.com is the top resource for understanding, and applying for UniCare Sound Health plans.UniCare's Sound Health Plan is the perfect plan if you are single, between the ages of 18-40, and live in Illinois, or Texas. It is the perfect student health plan, the perfect plan while you are waiting for the next job, the perfect plan for when you are single, and it is real health insurance that limits your losses to the deductible.Sound is Health coverage for your body, eyes, teeth. You know, the important stuff. Three simple health insurance plans, one just your flavor.
Apply online, that's it. No catches, no wasted time.
Brought to you by your tight bud's at UniCare Health Insurance Company of the Midwest, and Unicare Health Rates.
Sound health rates is the new address for the website replacing www.unicaresoundplans.com
Both addresses can take you where you want to go, but www.soundhealthrates.com is the top resource for understanding, and applying for UniCare Sound Health plans.UniCare's Sound Health Plan is the perfect plan if you are single, between the ages of 18-40, and live in Illinois, or Texas. It is the perfect student health plan, the perfect plan while you are waiting for the next job, the perfect plan for when you are single, and it is real health insurance that limits your losses to the deductible.Sound is Health coverage for your body, eyes, teeth. You know, the important stuff. Three simple health insurance plans, one just your flavor.
Apply online, that's it. No catches, no wasted time.
Brought to you by your tight bud's at UniCare Health Insurance Company of the Midwest, and Unicare Health Rates.
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