The Kaiser Family Foundation released mid-January poll results that found Americans squarely divided on national health reform proposals—at least at first glance. The poll went on to show that large proportions of Americans are unaware of the major provisions of heath reform bills, and their support increases dramatically when told about provisions like tax credits to help small businesses cover their employees, health insurance exchanges where coverage options can be compared; closing the Medicare drug benefit “doughnut hole,” and eliminating denials and rate hikes because of pre-existing conditions.

The sometimes raucous debate over hot-button issues (and outright untruths) of the last 6 months has worked against Americans getting a clear picture of the framework of health reform. This Policy Page provides a high-level outline of the key insurance coverage elements of the Senate bill, noting areas in which compromises with the House are likely.

• Adopting the House bill’s stronger affordability measures for families below 250 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines; and
• Requiring the House’s much stronger standards for a Health Insurance Exchanges–whether through a single national exchange or state-level exchanges–to empower exchanges to negotiate with insurers and deliver better value to individuals and small businesses.

You can read the full letter here.

A U.S. Senate inquiry into how health insurance companies spend our premiums dollars has reached the same conclusion as a CPPP report on the same subject: when compared to large business, a greater share of premiums from small business go to non-medical, administrative expenses.

The Senate’s analysis looked at nation-wide business for the 6 largest for-profit health insurance companies and found that on average, 80% of premiums paid by small businesses were spent on medical care.  Our analysis used data on Texas-based business reported by insurance companies to the Texas Department of Insurance and found that on average, 73% of premiums paid by small businesses were spent on medical care.  A couple of companies reported spending less than half of premiums from Texas small employers on medical care in some years.

Senator Rockefeller, who is leading the Senate inquiry, asked whether health insurance companies spend premiums “to make people well when they are sick and keep them healthy? Or is the money they charge going to profits, to executive salaries, and to figuring out how to deny care to people when they really need it?”  These are good questions that health reform could help answer.  The House health reform bill contains a requirement that companies spend at least 85% of premium dollars on medical care.

• New U.S. Census reports on uninsured Texans;
• Where bills are in Congress’ process, and the latest expected timelines;
• Main components of House and Senate bills;
• How those bills would affect Texas – including explaining the HHSC estimates quoted by Senator Cornyn;
• How premium assistance for low-and-moderate income families would work;
• Which small employers would be exempt from new requirements, and what larger employers would be required to do; and
• CPPP’s top goals and concerns for the legislation —emphasis on low-income Texans.

If you missed it view the Power Point slide presentation online

“We are astonished that Chambers of Commerce in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, of all places, would make public statements opposing national health care reform.  No area in the United States needs health care reform more than the counties that make up the Rio Grande Valley.”