Check Out the Map

An interactive map at the Health Reform website allows you to view health care statistics (sources sited) for your state and look at projected improvements that might be realized through reform.

Some interesting statistics for Nevada are as follows:
-Since 2000 alone, average family premiums have increased by 61 percent in Nevada.
- 14 percent of middle-income Nevada families spend more than 10 percent of their income on health care.
-18 percent of people in Nevada are uninsured, and 70 percent of them are in families with at least one full-time worker.
-While small businesses make up 73 percent of Nevada businesses, only 44 percent of them offered health coverage benefits in 2006.

Setting the Record Straight

I have heard some interesting things from friends who are opposed to health care reform. Here are a few of my favorite myths:

Myth 1: Proposed bills will provide free health care for illegal aliens.
TRUTH: The proposed legislation specifically states that "undocumented aliens" will not be eligible for credits to help them buy health insurance, in Section 246 on page 143.

Myth 2: Proposed bills will mean I cannot pick the doctor that I want.
TRUTH: Americans will still have access to private health insurance. Public insurance options will not assign doctors to patients. The bill does NOT propose a single-provider or "socialized" solution where the government controls doctors and/or hospitals.

Myth 3: Health care will be denied to those the government deems too old or too sick.
TRUTH: Section 142 of the bill says that a Health Choices Commissioner (HCC)will make sure that insurers are offering basic benefits and adhering to the regulations. Individuals then choose their own plan from offerings on the exchange. The health commissioner does not "decide health benefits for you." Individuals will be able to choose among competing insurers that are regulated via the exchange. The HCC will help establish standard system procedures, but will not review individual cases for approval or denial.

4. Government workers will be able to access my bank account to withdraw fees.
TRUTH: Section 163 sets out goals for electronic health records. One of the goals is to include features that "enable electronic funds transfers, in order to allow automated reconciliation" between payment and billing. The legislative summary says the intent in the section is "to adopt standards for typical transactions" between insurance companies and health care providers. The legislation generically describes typical electronic banking transactions and does not outline any special access privileges to accounts of citizens.

For more information, check out the Setting the Record Straight website.