NEWS

Senate Pressing Insurers on the Amount of Premiums They Spend on Care – The New York Times

The health insurance industry likes to cite figures showing that 87 cents of every dollar in premiums is spent on medical claims.

GOP Health Care Bill WON’T Prevent Insurance Companies From Denying Sick People – Huffington Post

Republicans are preparing to unveil their own health bill in the next few days. Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Monday that the plan wouldn’t seek to prevent health-insurance companies from denying sick people insurance — a key plank of the Democrats’ legislation.

Reid reassures left Lieberman on board – The Hill

Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter.

Democrats Say House Bill Cuts Premiums for Many – New York Times

As the House moved toward climactic votes on legislation to remake the health care system, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday that middle-income families might be required to pay 15 percent to 18 percent of their income on insurance premiums and co-payments under the proposal.

As votes near, insurers make last stand – Politico

When the insurance industry launched the first full-scale attack on key provisions of health reform, the Democrats’ response was swift, brutal and aimed squarely at Karen Ignagni, a former Democratic Capitol Hill aide who is now the industry’s top lobbyist.

Pelosi picks up centrist ‘yes’ votes - The Hill

Centrist Democrats in the House are moving toward the “yes” column on healthcare reform, triggering optimism among leadership officials that they will soon have the votes to pass their $894-billion measure.

OPINION

Op-Ed: Numbers, not shouting, overwhelm health care debate – John Dingell

We have the best medical professionals in the world, but fewer and fewer Americans can afford to pay for the care they can provide. The trends indicate that problem will get much worse.

Two Sentences That Sum Up The GOP Health Care Bill - Media Matters

Take a look at the highlighted sentences in the below article. Notice any problems?

Boehner: "Not Inclined" to Tell the Truth - The New Republic

House Minority Leader John Boehner recently released a memo arguing, among other things, that the House Democrats’ health care bill would result in "massive cuts to Medicare benefits for seniors" and "a negative impact on seniors’ benefits and choices."

McCain Adviser Holtz-Eakin Anxious About Moving Into Individual Market He Once Touted – Think Progress

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a senior policy adviser to Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presidential campaign, “remains unemployed — and his COBRA health coverage is running out,” the Washington Post reports. “Irony of ironies, it gets worse. Holtz-Eakin, who is about to start shopping for insurance on the individual market, is 51. And he has one of those pesky ‘preexisting conditions’ that insurance companies often cite in denying coverage”.

(compiled for Health Care for America Now)