Friday, June 02, 2006
The message was clear: You can not get away with bypassing health insurance anymore.
In a ground breaking move with far-reaching implications, Massachusetts adopted a law in April to need state residents to get medical insurance by July 1, 2007. Formerly, no state had necessary people to carry medical insurance.
In a ground breaking move with far-reaching implications, Massachusetts adopted a law in April to need state residents to get medical insurance by July 1, 2007. Formerly, no state had necessary people to carry medical insurance.
Industry observers gave varied views on whether this law should or can serve as a model in other states. Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen organization, suggests caution: "Other states, which are firing up their Xerox machines now, must wait to see how this works out before rushing to follow the Bay State's lead."
Universal coverage
Universal coverage
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed the law, but vetoed a stipulation that will have charged businesses $295 per employee, if they have more than 10 workers and do not offer health benefits. Legislators in the House of Representatives were rapid to override that line-item veto about two weeks later. The state Senate is probable to do the same, observers say.
"Massachusetts is leading the way with health insurance for everyone, without a government takeover and without raising taxes," declared Romney, who is taking into consideration a run for the presidency in 2008.
Romney's spokeswoman, Corby Kiernan, says, "The main [goal] was to cover the uninsured in Massachusetts and reduce the cost of health care." About 550,000 Massachusetts residents are uninsured, she estimates.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Buying half a pint less every time you visit the pub will be enough to pay for health insurance, new figures show.
On average Britons visit the pub a massive 157 times a year, spending £26 a time, research from health insurer Patient Choice reveals.
But if people spent just £1.11 less each time they headed to the boozer they can afford private health care.
However four people in five said the cost of private medical insurance is what is stopping them investing in health coverage.
And this weariness about the cost of cover up means just 15 per cent of Britons have private medical insurance.
But while saying it is also expensive to insure their health, Patient Choice research reveals that Britons are merrily splashing money on luxuries.
British women pay out an average of £94 on a trip to the hairdressers, and then return every two months, workers also pay out an average of £64 a month buying lunch rather than making it at home, and Britons head to the shops for a mark of retail therapy around once a month - spending £98 a time.
"Over the year's one of the most common complaints amongst consumers regarding private medical insurance is that premiums are just too expensive," said Dr Thom van every, chief medical officer at Patient Choice.
"This is not surprising when traditional insurers have done little to develop their policies and continue to duplicate the NHS with their products."
