Insurance companies hoping for a grace period before they are required to accept policyholders with pre-existing conditions learned that their waiting period had expired before healthcare reform even became law.
"Once I sign health insurance reform into law, doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less," Obama said, addressing the media recently.
"All these changes represent the most sweeping reforms and toughest restrictions on insurance companies that this country has ever known.
" Although most of the proposed changes in the healthcare reform bill are scheduled to be phased in over a three- to four-year period, Obama has pledged that people with pre-existing illnesses would be able to buy affordable insurance, children with pre-existing conditions would no longer be denied coverage and small-business owners who could not afford to cover employees would receive tax credits to buy insurance before the end of 2010.
The President's latest, most public push yet to finalize healthcare reform was hailed by industry advocates and Democrats while being criticized as a bully tactic by Republicans and lobbyists for the health insurance industry.
No matter the feedback, the onus is clearly on the House and Senate to combine their individual versions of the bill into a palatable law for Obama's signature.
Meanwhile, major U.
S.
worker union organizations are protesting Obama's endorsement of a health insurance tax on higher-priced, employer sponsored health care plans.
The so-called "Cadillac Plans," which feature lower deductibles, coverage for out-of-network doctor visits and prescription drug discounts are often provided as a benefit for unionized employees in exchange for agreeing to lower wages.
Although the Obama administration says the tax, to affect health plans with premiums above $8,500, would most likely only affect wealthy executives.
While the House version of the healthcare reform bill doesn't include a tax on health insurance plans (and both sides of the Congressional Aisle do not publicly support it for fear of repercussions at the voting booth next fall), economists say the tax is a critical component.
If the Senate's version of the bill does little to cover costs, it might be defeated.
Economists and industry unions are widely split on how to pay for healthcare reform.
Some unions, like the United Steelworkers of America, content that the tax will come down hard on its members.
Others, including the United Telecommunications Workers, say that the tax would likely lead to increased wages, which would essentially pay for the tax.
The White House has said it supports an effort to tweak any final legislation so that it makes insurance more affordable for the lowest earners.
"Once I sign health insurance reform into law, doctors and patients will have more control over their health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less," Obama said, addressing the media recently.
"All these changes represent the most sweeping reforms and toughest restrictions on insurance companies that this country has ever known.
" Although most of the proposed changes in the healthcare reform bill are scheduled to be phased in over a three- to four-year period, Obama has pledged that people with pre-existing illnesses would be able to buy affordable insurance, children with pre-existing conditions would no longer be denied coverage and small-business owners who could not afford to cover employees would receive tax credits to buy insurance before the end of 2010.
The President's latest, most public push yet to finalize healthcare reform was hailed by industry advocates and Democrats while being criticized as a bully tactic by Republicans and lobbyists for the health insurance industry.
No matter the feedback, the onus is clearly on the House and Senate to combine their individual versions of the bill into a palatable law for Obama's signature.
Meanwhile, major U.
S.
worker union organizations are protesting Obama's endorsement of a health insurance tax on higher-priced, employer sponsored health care plans.
The so-called "Cadillac Plans," which feature lower deductibles, coverage for out-of-network doctor visits and prescription drug discounts are often provided as a benefit for unionized employees in exchange for agreeing to lower wages.
Although the Obama administration says the tax, to affect health plans with premiums above $8,500, would most likely only affect wealthy executives.
While the House version of the healthcare reform bill doesn't include a tax on health insurance plans (and both sides of the Congressional Aisle do not publicly support it for fear of repercussions at the voting booth next fall), economists say the tax is a critical component.
If the Senate's version of the bill does little to cover costs, it might be defeated.
Economists and industry unions are widely split on how to pay for healthcare reform.
Some unions, like the United Steelworkers of America, content that the tax will come down hard on its members.
Others, including the United Telecommunications Workers, say that the tax would likely lead to increased wages, which would essentially pay for the tax.
The White House has said it supports an effort to tweak any final legislation so that it makes insurance more affordable for the lowest earners.
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