Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite Mack Wolford believed faith compelled him to face the risk »

Health Care Bills Don't Offer Real Choice

Legislation in Congress seem to settle for status quo

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2009 1:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – Health insurance firms are essentially monopolies because employers, not individuals, choose which plans to offer. This freedom from competitive forces has allowed insurance to become flaky and opaque—and the reform currently being debated in Washington would do little about it, writes David Leonhardt for... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

7 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Miami Face-Eater Identified

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

health insurance • Senate • insurance • health insurance premiums • health care reform • Bob Bennett • Ron Wyden • vouchers • health insurance industry

More Newser Stories

In Budget Deal, Lobbyists Win Surprising Battle

Ron Wyden's voucher plan scrapped—though that won't save money

(NEWSER) - Soon after Democrats and Republicans settled on a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Ron Wyden got a call from Harry Reid. “You lost free-choice vouchers,” he said. Translation: Somehow in the budget scuffle, those involved agreed out of the blue to kill a plan Wyden had fought hard for that would allow employees to opt out of their employer-provided health care and buy a plan of their choosing with an employer-financed voucher, the New York Times explains. More»

Coming to 16M Mailboxes: ObamaCare Rebates

Health insurers to hand $1.3B back to consumers, employers this summer

(NEWSER) - Health insurers will be handing some $1.3 billion back to consumers and employers this summer as a key provision of ObamaCare comes into force. The health care law requires insurers to spend at least 80% of premiums on health care and quality improvements, or provide refunds. A study from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 16 million Americans will be receiving rebates of up to $150, reports Reuters . More»

129M Americans Have Pre-Existing Conditions

Republican aide calls new report nothing but 'PR'

(NEWSER) - As the House prepares to consider a repeal of health care reform, the Obama administration has released a startling statistic: Up to 129 million non-elderly Americans have pre-existing health conditions. That means anywhere from one-fifth to one-half of people under age 65 in the US are at risk of being charged more, or rejected entirely, by insurance companies, the Washington Post reports. (The smaller figure represents the number of people whose conditions would make them ineligible; the larger number represents those who would be faced with higher charges or limited coverage.) More»

McD's: We'll Dump Worker Plans Over Health Reform

Chain wants waiver from 'mini-med' spending rules

(NEWSER) - McDonald's is threatening to drop employee health insurance because of new federal health care regulations requiring it to spend at least $4 out of every $5 its plan receives on health benefits. Mickey D's says that the requirement, meant to force companies to spend money on actual worker benefits rather than exec pay or marketing, is unrealistic because of the high administrative costs of its large number of "mini-plans," and has asked regulators for a waiver, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Health Care Reform Law Kicks In Today

No more refusing to insure sick kids, limiting lifetime benefits

(NEWSER) - Some of the central provisions of the health care reform bill passed 6 months ago go into effect today, and despite the partisan rancor that’s surrounded the law, they’re sure to help hundreds of thousands of Americans. As of today, the New York Times explains, insurers will no longer be able to exclude children because of pre-existing conditions, set lifetime limits on benefits, or drop sick customers due to technical mistakes on their applications. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Health Care Bills Don't Offer Real Choice

Legislation in Congress seem to settle for status quo

health insurance • Senate • insurance • health insurance premiums • health care reform • Bob Bennett • Ron Wyden • vouchers • health insurance industry

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

In Budget Deal, Lobbyists Win Surprising Battle

Ron Wyden's voucher plan scrapped—though that won't save money

Coming to 16M Mailboxes: ObamaCare Rebates

Health insurers to hand $1.3B back to consumers, employers this summer

129M Americans Have Pre-Existing Conditions

Republican aide calls new report nothing but 'PR'

McD's: We'll Dump Worker Plans Over Health Reform

Chain wants waiver from 'mini-med' spending rules

Health Care Reform Law Kicks In Today

No more refusing to insure sick kids, limiting lifetime benefits

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?