Guaranty Association Benefits Company

UPDATE UPDATE: the House voted in favor of the SCHIP expansion 289 to 139.

ORIGINAL POST:

We're only two weeks into the new year, and legislative policy is already in full swing

Democrats in the House of representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill to expand Health Insurance Program for children of State (SCHIP) -. and with the heavy majority, will almost certainly approve.

Bill, similar to bills vetoed by outgoing President George W. Bush in 07, will expand coverage to about 4.1 million children, reported Washington post .

under Article Post, the bill will cost about $ 33 billion - paid mainly by an increase in the federal cigarette tax 61 percent

So here come the political ...

Susan Gates ,. a lawyer for the group defending the rights of children, the Children's Defense Fund, sought to criticize President-elect Barack Obama for his lack of universalism.

"This is certainly not the promise to cover all children that the elected president ran on," Gates said, noting the bill still leave some 5 million children discovered.

Republicans in the House put their two cents in as well.

A letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President-elect Obama, signed by 112 House GOP members, said their concerns about the SCHIP bill.

They are more concerned that the legislation will threaten private health insurance, Medicaid come with large budget deficits, and will allow immigrants to enter the program, wrote the post.

After almost guaranteed approval in the House, the bill could pass the US Senate for a vote, where it is also likely to pass.

it is difficult to see how this time SCHIP expansion is not all the way through.

all thought?

There had a big news week in the health care industry and health insurance, and we were behind, so let's go for speed.

former Senator Tom Daschle, who was the candidate of President Obama for secretary of health and human rights, withdrew its account name after being unable to overcome pressure 140.000 $ to arrears of unpaid taxes, reported The New York Times .

Daschle, whose output is considered by most as a blow to the campaign for the reform of health care, has also resigned as director of the Office of the White House health reform.

So, who is now in the running to take the place of Daschle? Names rumors include Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sibelius, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber.

Look for President Obama to try to fill the vacancy soon put this political victim behind him quickly as possible.

In other news from the medical industry, President Obama hopes the country talking about the new expansion of the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). He signed the bill passed by both houses of Congress on Wednesday reported USA Today .

The bill will extend coverage to about 4 million children, and cost the government around $ 32.8 billion in total, paid for by increasing taxes on federal cigarettes.

Republicans in the Senate were more unhappy with the provision of the bill that took away the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants to enroll in SCHIP.

Finally, President Obama has formally repealed the rules of former President Bush that limited state governments to expand their SCHIP programs. Find memo from President Obama to lift the rules here.

Health insurance and health care reform health is certainly the topic of the moment - President Barack Obama has broad reform goals in his sights and Medicare is a top target

for a while now, Democrats lawmakers sought to reduce the amount the government pays private health insurance companies that provide. replacement Medicare coverage, such as Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage plans provide eligible Americans the opportunity to receive their health benefits through a private insurer rather than the government.

But recent research has found insurers get paid about 14 percent more than what the government spends on regular people Medicare Parts A and B, for example.

This is why it is a target for Democrats, who want to reduce payments to Medicare Advantage to save money and redirect to other health reform efforts.

According to Wall Street Journal , which is exactly what President Obama has in mind. The president wants to cut some $ 117 billion over the next decade these Medicare Advantage plans.

Obviously, the health industry is not so much to support such deep cuts. They argue it will lead to higher premiums, cut benefits or abandonment of certain geographic markets completely, writes the Journal.

But Democrats argue the higher payments are not needed and the money could be better used.

So, firstly, we have Medicare Advantage plans that offer several times more personalized coverage and lower cost option for older Americans. On the other hand, we inflated payments that could be reduced to provide more additional health reform funding.

Let the debate begin.