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Sandy Eaton, RN

Labor Notes (click here for original article)

Massachusetts pays the most in the nation for its health care, and yet it’s plagued by an ongoing crisis of access, affordability, and quality. Although our experiment in health care reform already has deep problems, policy wonks influencing the country’s health care debate tout Massachusetts as the model for universal health care nationwide. . . .

Leaving the bloated insurance industry in place perpetuates the pain and cost of the current health care system. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Wall Street Journal Editorial (click here for original article)

July 29, 3008

Gearing up for 2009, liberals are eager to claim Massachusetts as a Valhalla of health reform. Their enthusiasm is apparently evidence-proof.

Even Mitt Romney, who should know better, took to these pages recently to proclaim, “Health-care reform is working in Massachusetts.” Shortly after Mr. Romney’s self-tribute, Governor Deval Patrick wheeled out a new $129 million tax plan to make up for this year’s health spending shortfalls. Yet partisans are cheering the cost overruns as a sign of success. (more…)

Diana Stein

Professor Emeritus, Mount Holyoke College

Massachusetts League of Women Voters Amherst Health Care Committee

Medicare, our own government health care system for those 65 and older was enacted in 1965 and signed into law by then President Lyndon Johnson on July 30th. The very first person to sign up for Medicare was former President Harry Truman! (more…)

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Record-Journal (Click here for original article)

By Ryan J. Phelan, Record-Journal staff
05/03/2008

MERIDEN - The American people are desperate for a universal health care plan, said U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., during his keynote address at the regional action summit of Latino Voices in Universal Healthcare on Saturday. (more…)

UHCEF Article of Interest

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Chron.com News, search and shopping from the Houston Chronicle

(Click here for the original article.)

April 29, 2008, 11:06PM

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — Some people marry for love, some for companionship and others for status or money. Now comes another reason to get hitched: health insurance. (more…)

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metro INTERNATIONAL (Click here for original article.)

Boston April 28, 2008

Supporters call for change to Bay State Chapter 58 law

BOSTON. Marking the second anniversary of Massachusetts’ universal health care bill, advocates for reform take to Boston Common today with the help of former Audioslave guitarist, Tom Morello, to promote ‘Medicare for all’ changes to state policy. (more…)

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The American Prospect May 2008 (Click here for original article.)

The Schwarzenegger plan was a near miss, but well worth the trouble. The stage is set for the next effort.

Anthony Wright | April 21, 2008

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California titled 2007 “The Year of Health Reform.” By early 2008, a comprehensive health-reform plan had been negotiated by a Republican governor and a Democratic assembly speaker. It was supported by a broad coalition of not just prominent community groups and labor unions but also key health providers, insurers, and business leaders. As a longtime consumer advocate active in the debate, I was disappointed that the effort ultimately stalled in California’s Senate. The policy framework would have expanded coverage to the vast majority of the uninsured — ultimately covering over 95 percent of Californians as well as providing financial assistance to millions of insured families now struggling with health-care costs. But this is not the final round in the effort for health reform in California. (more…)

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The American Prospect May 2008 (Click here for original article.)

Once again, a new administration and Congress will try to bring us universal health insurance. This time, despite urgent cost pressures, will they do it right?

Ezra Klein | April 21, 2008

If health insurance were cheap, we could all buy it. If universal health care could get 60 votes in the Senate, we’d all have it. But these two imperatives — the need to control costs and the need to attract the 60 Senate votes required to overcome a filibuster — point in opposite directions. This is the central paradox of health reform. (more…)

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The American Prospect May 2008 (Click here for original article.)

The next administration will expand health coverage. Will they fix what is broken — or just inflate costs?

Robert Kuttner | April 21, 2008

America’s health-insurance system is nearing a breakdown. Not only are nearly one-third of all Americans uninsured at some point every year, according to the Commonwealth Fund, but growing numbers of Americans who are nominally covered are seriously underinsured. When insurance fails to cover medically needed procedures, tests, or prescription drugs, citizens must choose between medical care and other necessities of life. (more…)

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The American Prospect May 2008 (Click here for original article.)

A model grassroots organizing campaign mobilizes public opinion for universal coverage in a state long dominated by private insurers.

Marc Caplan | April 21, 2008

Connecticut — still known as the insurance capital of the United States even with takeovers and significant layoffs in the industry — might be the last state conventional wisdom would expect to break new ground in the fight for universal health care. But it could well happen. Strong advocates and legislative proponents, significant business support for real change, and an innovative health-care foundation implementing a well-funded broad-based organizing campaign are positioning Connecticut to provide national leadership on the issue. (more…)