Pennsylvania Democrats Ready To Battle Big Insurance

Senate Democrat Robert Casey (Pa.) blasted health insurance companies due to reports that indicate they will end sales of child-only policies just before healthcare provisions that ensure children with preexisting conditions are granted insurance take effect saying it is “inexcusable” and “immoral”.

“I’m going to do everything on my part to let those insurance companies know that we will not tolerate this kind of conduct,” Casey said. “We have a lot of ways to make sure that they know that we’re very serious about making sure that children get the coverage that they need.”

Thursday will mark the six-month anniversary of the passage of the comprehensive healthcare reform,
while also celebrating the implementation of new health protections for consumers. These new protections guarantee access to coverage for children with pre-existing conditions, give Americans a better opportunity to choose their doctor and prohibit insurers from canceling policies.

Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, discussed how the upcoming health provisions will benefit those without health insurance or who are having difficulties paying for health insurance premiums. The latter will be eligible for “advance-able, refundable and sliding scale tax credit,” he said. Those who have limited tax liability or have greater tax credit than liability will be eligible for a refund. Additionally, he announced that approximately 28.6 million people will be eligible for tax credit by 2014 around the nation, including almost one million Pennsylvanians. In that year alone, taxes are expected go down by $3.8 billion.

“We need the private sector to work with us to implement the reforms and to acknowledge that tomorrow is when a number of significant health provisions go into effect,” said Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa).

House Majority Leader Expects Health Care Vote Saturday Night

By Julianne LaJeunesse, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke with reporters Friday about the newest Democrat health care plan, saying the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” should go to vote by 7 or 8 PM Saturday night.

The bill, which spans nearly 2,000 pages, has garnered the support of the AARP, the American Medical Association, and now, Families USA, a group who joined Hoyer in a teleconference with the press.

Hoyer said the bill is economically sound, despite some Republicans’ impression of the legislation. He said Rep. John Boehner (R- Ohio), who’s been a leader against the costs of the Democrat plan, “would not be for this bill.”

“We have a disagreement, but I think that his proposition is simply that he’s not for the program, irrespective of the economics.”

Hoyer went further on the topic of economics, and said that in light of today’s U.S. Department of Labor announcement of a 10.2 percent unemployment rate, “we’re all disappointed with the job numbers that were released today.” Hoyer added that financial progress has been made in the past few quarters, but said “very frankly, we need to focus on jobs, jobs creation, and jobs sustainment.”

Soon after Hoyer’s remarks, and just after signing a $24 billion bill that will extend unemployment benefits among other measures, President Obama addressed the country, saying, “I’m confident that our economy will recover,” he said. “I’m confident that we’re moving in the right direction. And I promise that I won’t rest until America prospers once again.”