Health Care Reform 101: It’s Time You (not your insurance company) had Control over Your Health Insurance.

In the past ten years, your family’s health insurance bill has doubled. And if nothing is done to rein in the industry, your premiums will double again in another ten years.

Did your salary double during the past decade – will it during the next?

We have the power to force health costs down if we get real oversight of insurance companies and allow competition to flourish. The leading health bill does just that.

For the first time ever, all insurance companies would have to:

Spend at least 85% of your premium on health care (at least 80% if you buy an individual policy or get your plan from a small employer), or rebate you the difference.
Openly compete against each other for your business based on better care and price – not just avoiding sick people. (In a health care exchange)
List what they charge, and what they cover, so you can easily comparison shop.
Be upfront about how they’ll treat you, by describing their policies in plain language and clearly explaining your rights.

Unfortunately, we know the industry will not take these reforms lying down. Leading insurance companies are terrified these controls will reduce their greedy profits, and are spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress and running misleading advertisements.

But today we are closer than ever. As I write this, President Obama is leading a half-day summit to discuss health reform legislation. While lawmakers in Washington engage in one more discussion, let’s send them a clear message: Stop talking and start acting, we want health reform NOW.

Sign the petition: Tell Lawmakers you want health reform NOW.

*This article is the second in a three part series: Click here for the third article in this series. Miss the first, check it out.

Read more: health care, health care reform, policy, politics

Photo courtesy of ProgressOhio on Flikr.
Written by Susan Herold. Senior Web Editor, Consumers Union.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Linda M.

5:30PM PDT on Apr 12, 2010

everyone, please sign and share:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/tell-obama-to-put-solar-panels-back-on-the-white-house

thanks so much

send a green star

Marian D.

1:08PM PST on Mar 11, 2010

We need health care reform, yes, but we do not need what they are trying to shove down our throats. Have you read any of the provisions in the current plan? Read it and be very scared!

Past Member .

10:28AM PST on Mar 11, 2010

MANDATORY ! ANTI TRUST LAWS for the INSURANCE COMPANIES !!!!

Sofia B.

6:28AM PST on Mar 7, 2010

With universal health care, a lot of health issues can be dealt with when they are still in their cradle, which is much cheaper and also more humanitarian. With this type of insurance-based system you have in the US, those not so well off will procrastinate going to the doctor until it's acute, which in the long run will cost more money, not only for the one sick but also for society as a whole as this person won't be able to work and take care of her/himself.

This is so clearly demonstrated by dental care. Teach a child to take care of its teeth and attend to immediate problems, and that child won't have half the problems as an adult as those who didn't get any dental care as children.

6:26AM PST on Mar 7, 2010

With universal health care, a lot of health issues can be dealt with when they are still in their cradle, which is much cheaper and also more humanitarian. With this type of insurance-based system, those not so well off will procrastinate going to the doctor until it's acute, which in the long run will cost more money, not only for the one sick but also for society as a whole as this person won't be able to work and take care of her/himself.

This is so clearly demonstrated by dental care. Teach a child to take care of its teeth and attend to immediate problems, and that child won't have half the problems as an adult as those who didn't get any dental care as children.

Kaye S.

9:30PM PST on Mar 5, 2010

Like that's going to happen.

Subhash J.

8:08AM PST on Mar 2, 2010

Does someone who undertakes good care of your money and its growth ever return the full benefits that were earned by the use of your money - no, no and never.

I believe that this person is permitted an appropriate commission or compensation for the work done but if he forgets that it was your money that generated the profits/earnings, this avaracious person would rightfully the beneficiary of your ire.

Such is the case with all health care and concerned insurance companies. I believe that all individuals/citizens, irrespective of what their income and status is, must be given full and quality medical care. That is what democracy is all about and that is what a welfare state is all about which I believe a large number of democracies are or should be as also should be all other forms of government.

This is a very educative write up - my thanks go out to Ms Susan Herold and Greg for posting this. All those who have commented here have provided a very healthy discussion which I intend carrying to my country's leadeship in whichever way I can.

Allison S.

3:45AM PST on Mar 2, 2010

How can anyone even THINK healthcare is NOT a right?? We are not immortal beings. Aging and sickness is part of life so healthcare should not be thought of as a luxury.

Rozlyn R.

3:12AM PST on Mar 2, 2010

Health Care IS a right. If the Supreme Court can make corporations persons, we can certainly interpret the Declaration of Independence to cover health care when it says 'LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. What good are the other two if you don't have the first.

1:51AM PST on Mar 2, 2010

Let me start by saying your health is your wealth. Proper health care is very important to every citizen regardless of age. On average, maybe it won't feel so important when you are young but it gets increasingly more important as you get older. Saving/investing toward retirement is already such a sacrifice/a necessary evil, but having one's life's savigs all go into medical bills during one's golden years - that can become very distressing very quickly.