By Laura Smith, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

During a press conference Tuesday on the importance of health care reform for middle class Americans, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said that health care costs have more than doubled in the past decade and could grow further.

“The average American spent $6,000 on their health care just ten years ago. Now the average American family is spending $12,000, and in ten years from now, without any bending of the cost curve, they will be spending $24,000 a year. If we do not act, these costs will break the backs of the American people,” Klobuchar said.

The senator attributed the numbers to Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)

Klobuchar went on to outline what she would like to see brought about through significant reform.

“It is my hope that no one will have to choose between necessary medical care, and their mortgage,” said Klobuchar. “For the middle class, reform will mean stable coverage that can’t be taken away, stable costs that won’t eat away at paychecks and better care.”

Health care expert Trudy Lieberman says it is a little known fact that the public option plan will not be available to “very many people.” She says the public was led to believe that insurance reform would allow anyone to join the public option for lower priced insurance, but that is not the case. (0:21)

 

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By Laura Smith, University Of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Monday that a significant step was taken last week when the Senate Finance Committee approved the America’s Healthy Future Act.

“Our bill lowers federal deficit, ends insurance discrimination, expands coverage … improves quality, and also guarantees [that] in our country, finally, nobody will ever go broke just because they get sick,” Baucus said during a teleconference with reporters.

The Montana Democrat went on to comment that he thinks one of the biggest travesties in America is how many people go bankrupt because of high medical bills.

Baucus, who chairs the Finance Commitee, said the bill will help with lowering costs, be deficit neutral in approximately 10 years and will protect Americans from harmful insurance industry practices. Baucus also stressed that the legislation will stop companies from denying coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions and to those who become ill while insured.

“It’s going to be reform that will provide real, quality, affordable health insurance for millions more Americans,” Baucus said. “It’s also a reform measure that can pass.”

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) says he is confident that there will be a meaningful healthcare reform bill on the Senate floor that will lower costs, be deficit neutral over 10 years, protect Americans from harmful insurance industry practices, keep companies from denying coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions and will prevent companies from dropping coverage for Americans who get sick. (0:46)

 

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Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) says it is important that people pay health care costs that are fair, especially those who are self-insured or uninsured. He adds that the current system drives people to acquire insurance plans that are more expensive than what they can afford. (:71)

 

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says that two out of the five relevant House and Senate committees have passed health care reform legislation which is something that’s never been done before. She says, “Congress has made historic progress on health insurance reform that will put patients and doctors back in charge and ensure quality, affordable, accessible health care for America’s middle class.” 0:33)

 

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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) says no American family should have to go to sleep worrying about their child getting sick and not having access to health care. (0:09)

 

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By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Two more House committees have passed versions of health care reform legislation following discussions that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning. That brings the total up to three out of the five House and Senate Committees that have now reported legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) noted in Friday’s press conference that this is the farthest comprehensive health reform has ever gotten in Congress.

The House Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) completed their discussion and reported legislation at around 2 AM Friday. The Committee on Education and Labor chaired by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) had an even longer discussion which lasted till 6 AM and came back at 9 AM to complete the votes.

Pelosi said, “Congress has made historic progress on health insurance reform that will put patients and doctors back in charge and ensure quality, affordable, accessible health care for America’s middle class.”

Pelosi also noted the recent endorsement from the American Medical Association (AMA) of America’s Affordable Health Care legislation.

“This legislation includes a broad range of provisions that are key to effective, comprehensive health system reform…The AMA wants the debate in Washington to conclude with, real, long overdue results that will improve the health of America’s patients.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) joined the Speaker and two Chairmen to announce the “historic progress.”

“These next pivitol months will finally be our chance to deliver-and we will,” said Hoyer.

Dr. Len Nichols, Director of the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation, says, “If we don’t fix the insurance market, none of this [reform] is going to work.” He also highlights the need for changes in regulation and an increase of competition in the insurance market. (0:22)

 

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Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) says health care insurance shouldn’t be tied down to jobs. He says it should be like car insurance in the sense that individuals should own it. (0:40)

 

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