WASHINGTON — Much of the money and strategy behind the so-called grassroots groups organizing opposition to the Democrats’ health care plans comes from conservative political consultants, professional organizers and millionaires, some of whom hold financial stakes in the outcome. If President Barack Obama and Congress extend health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for it, and limit insurers’ discretion on who they cover and what they charge, that could pinch these opponents. Most of them say they oppose big government in principle. Despite Obama’s assurances to the contrary, many of them insist that the Democrats’ legislation is but the first step toward creation of a single-payer system, where the federal government hires the doctors, approves treatments, sets the rules and imperils profit. These opposition groups appear to have spent at least $10 million so far on ads attacking the Democrats’ plans. Still, supporters of a health care overhaul have outspent opponents by more than 2-to-1 so far, according to Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks ad spending. Supporters include drug makers angling for their own protections, unions, the American Medical Association and AARP, the seniors’ […]
WASHINGTON — US regulators have shut down five more regional banks, bringing the total number of US bank failures to 77 this year, the US government announced. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said Colonial Bank of Montgomery became the largest US bank to fail this year after it was declared bankrupt and had the bulk of its assets taken over by rival BB&T. All of Alabama-based Colonial’s 346 branches will reopen Saturday ‘and operate as branches of BB&T,’ the FDIC said. The list of closed banks also included the Community Bank of Nevada in Las Vegas that was closed by order of the Nevada Financial Institutions Division, which appointed the FDIC as receiver. As of the end of June, the bank had total assets of 1.52 billion dollars and total deposits of about 1.38 billion. Also shut down was the Community Bank of Arizona in Phoenix, which will be taken over by MidFirst Bank from Oklahoma City. The bank had total assets of 158.5 million dollars, most of which will be purchased by MidFirst Bank, the FDIC said. The Oklahoman bank will also assume all of the deposits of Union Bank of […]
One of the biggest threats consumers face to their personal finances is the risk of medical bankruptcy, according to a recent study. Researchers from Harvard University’s law and medical schools and Ohio University recently reported that 60 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were due to medical debts. These debts can affect middle-class families with insurance as well those who are unemployed and/or uninsured. The researchers noted that medical-related bankruptcies increased by 50 percent between 2001 and 2007, making consumers 2.38 times more likely to face such problems. The report also found that average out-of-pocket medical expenses were $22,568 for families that initially had private coverage but proceeded to lose it. Average out-of-pocket expenses for all medically bankrupt families were reported to be $17,943. There has been some talk in Washington of revising existing bankruptcy laws to allow greater leeway for those who spiral into debt due to medical costs. Bankruptcy can stay on a consumer’s credit report for 10 years, damaging his or her credit score and making it extremely difficult to secure access to loans and other types of consumer credit.
Theodore R. Marmor is professor emeritus of public policy and political science at Yale University and a former fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. He is the author of ‘The Politics of Medicare (Aldine Transaction, 2000). He spoke to freelance writer Sarah Arnquist. This is the first in a series of posts briefly describing health care delivery in other countries. Q. How does the Canadian system provide health care at lower cost than the American system? BY THE NUMBERS Canada * Life expectancy: 81 years * Infant mortality: 5 per 1,000 live births * Health spending as a percentage of GDP: 10 * Percentage of health spending that is private: 30 * Doctors per 10,000 people: 19 Source: World Health Organization. U.S. statistics. A. Canada’s national health insurance, called Medicare, provides hospital and physician insurance to all Canadian citizens. It does not provide health care directly from government hospitals or through publicly employed physicians. Imagine 10 provincial nonprofit health insurance plans without deductibles, co-insurance or co-payments for medically prescribed treatment. […]
LONDON, England — Britons including Prime Minister Gordon Brown have leapt to the defense of their creaking healthcare service after President Barack Obama’s plans for a similar system in the United States were branded ‘evil’ by Republicans. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a heartfelt message of support for the NHS via Twitter. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a heartfelt message of support for the NHS via Twitter. Tens of thousands of people have joined a Twitter group expressing pride in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), which offers free taxpayer-funded medical care to all British residents, while leading politicians have spoken out in support. Republican former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin earlier this week condemned Obama’s plans to introduce a public heath insurance scheme as an ‘evil’ move that would result in ‘death panels’ deciding who would live or die. Her criticism has been echoed by fellow Republicans in direct attacks on Britain’s NHS. In an article, Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich said British healthcare was run by ‘Orwellian’ bureaucrats who put a price tag on life. The comments caused a storm of protest in the United Kingdom, with Prime Minister […]
Remote Viewing the Year 2060
