Phila Inquirer: Attacks mount on ‘preexisting conditions’
Citing the case of a 34 day-old infant denied health insurance for a preexisting condition, reporter Michael Vitez examines insurance companies’ practice of denying coverage for those with such conditions, and how President Obama seeks to change it.
U.S. Institute of Medicine: Many more Americans will lose their health insurance
With the economy expected to weaken even more, healthcare will become more expensive leading more employers to discontinue their employee coverage.
New study reflects hard times in Southeastern PA
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on a Community Health Data Base survey indicating that families in the Philadelphia area have cut back on food and medication due to the rough economic times.
Uninsured young adults and “do-it-yourself” healthcare
The New York Times discusses young adults who don’t have health insurance, and how they use dangerous means of self-treatment for their medical ailments.
SCHIP: A valentine for uninsured children
In a carefully chosen setting in a Northeast Philadelphia children’s center yesterday, three Pennsylvania members of Congress exalted the passage of legislation that will expand publicly funded health insurance for children, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Rep. Mundy again trying to get Blue Cross/Blue Shields to return surplus money
State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, is making a fourth try to get the four Blue Cross/Blue Shield divisions to return billions in surpluses to ratepayers throughout the state, reports the Citizens Voice.
“Even before this current economic situation, every year my constituents were losing access to health care because they couldn’t afford these Blue Cross/Blue Shield premiums,” Mundy said.
At the same time, Blue Cross/Blue Shield is donating to community organizations and hospital mergers, she said. Most recently, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pa. donated $9.6 million from its surplus to Mercy Hospital in Scranton.
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Mundy, who introduced similar bills in three previous legislative sessions, said she hopes “at the very least” this bill keeps the issue in the forefront of people’s minds.
Read more at the Citizens Voice, including what the Blues are saying to defend themselves.