Jan 13, 2011
Repeal will reverse progress toward guaranteed, affordable health care
Consider the impact that repealing the Affordable Care Act would have for individuals.
Jan 12, 2011
CBO says repeal of the Affordable Care Act will increase budget deficit
Responding to a letter from the new Speaker of the House John Boehner, the Congressional Budget Office weighed in on the budgetary impact of a complete repeal of health care reform.
Dec 22, 2010
Ground Zero Responders Bill Remains Blocked by Abuse of Senate Rules
As this CWA Newsletter closed out, some Senate Republicans led by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) were continuing to stall discussion of the bill to provide health care and compensation to Sept. 11 responders at Ground Zero. The legislation would help ailing police officers, firefighters, telecom workers and others – including many CWA members -- who were on the ground in the earliest days following Sept. 11.
Dec 17, 2010
Department of Health and Human Services Issues New Rules on Bare-Bones Health Plans
Last Thursday, HHS released new guidelines for low-cost, low-benefit health plans that are expected to be phased out and replaced by more generous insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Dec 16, 2010
CEO of California State Employees Health Care Program Praises Health Care Reform
The CEO of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest non-federal purchaser of health benefits in the country, sent a letter Friday to the Secretary of Health and Human Services listing the ways that the Affordable Care Act has already benefited the program’s enrollees.
Dec 15, 2010
Virginia Judge rules Individual Mandate Unconstitutional
On Monday a Federal Judge in Virginia ruled that the health care reform provision known as the individual mandate, whereby all Americans who can afford health care coverage but go without must pay a tax penalty, was unconstitutional. This ruling follows two other recent federal court cases – one in Lynchburg, VA and the other in Detroit, Michigan -- that found this provision to be constitutional.
Dec 13, 2010
U.S. receives a grade of “Unsatisfactory” on meeting the health needs of women
National Women’s Law Center has issued its 2010 report Making the Grade on Women’s Health: A National and State-by-State Report Card. Overall the U.S. received a grade of “Unsatisfactory” and passing marks were given to only two states, Massachussetts and Vermont.
Dec 9, 2010
Obstruction Watch Cont’d: Senate Republicans Block Debate on Health Care Bill for Ground Zero Worker
Months ago, the House of Representatives voted to cover medical treatment and monitoring for workers exposed to toxins at Ground Zero, where workers, including hundreds of CWAers, were on the job following the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
Dec 3, 2010
The Deficit Commission plan would end first-dollar coverage for Medicare recipients
The Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan would bar seniors from purchasing Medigap coverage to help with a proposed $500 deductible.
Dec 2, 2010
Health Care reform declared constitutional by a federal judge, again
For the second time in as many months, a U.S. District Court judge on Tuesday declared that a provision in the health care reform law called the individual mandate is constitutional
Dec 2, 2010
Medical costs for retirees falling, still very high for those without employer based coverage
A new report estimates that retirees without the benefit of employer provided coverage will need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank to cover expected health care costs. Employees with employer provided coverage can expect to retire securely with 40% less money in savings for health care costs.
Dec 2, 2010
Corporate-Owned St. Louis Paper Pulls Plug – Again—on Retiree Health Care
Just in time for the holidays, the corporate owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is yanking union- negotiated medical coverage from scores of retirees, telling retirees they’ll have to cough up 100 percent of the premium cost.
Dec 1, 2010
Senate Investigating Mini-Med “Junk” Health Plans
Bare-Bones health plans are coming under greater scrutiny.
Nov 30, 2010
Affordable Care Act improving the value of Medicare plans without affecting quality or choice
Seniors are getting a better deal from Medicare Advantage plans under health care reform.
Nov 24, 2010
High deductible health plans may be bad for your health
According to new research, high out of pockets costs encourage people to postpone preventative and early stage medical care. The result is higher overall medical costs and worse health.
Nov 23, 2010
Health plans must spend premiums on medical care
The Accountable Care Act requires that the lion's share of health insurance premiums pay for actual medical care — not insurers' overhead and profits. Today rules that enforce that basic premise go into effect.
Nov 18, 2010
Freshman GOPer Whines Over Delay in His Taxpayer-Paid Health Care
On the campaign trail, Republican Congressman Andy Harris (Md.) promised to repeal health care reform and slammed the very idea of a public option as "socialism."
Sep 30, 2010
House Passes Long-Sought Health Bill for Ground Zero Workers
A health care bill for Ground Zero workers that House Republicans blocked in July was passed 268-160 on Wednesday, when 13 Republicans joined Democrats to support it. The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would provide federal funds for medical monitoring and treatment for first responders, recovery crews and other workers exposed to Ground Zero toxins, including about 1,500 CWA members in telecom, the public sector, newspapers and broadcasting.
Sep 27, 2010
Health Care Reform Report Card: Better than Expected
Professor Jacob Hacker issues a report card on the initial rollout of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This assessment gives a higher score than many might expect.
Sep 27, 2010
Poll finds Americans think law should have done more on health care
President Obama's health care overhaul has divided the nation, and Republicans believe their call for repeal will help them win elections in November. But the picture's not that clear cut. A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1.
Multimedia
What Health Care Reform Means to Retirees
Watch Video »
Health Care Reform Update & Implications for CWA Members
Watch Video »
Cohen: Why the Prevailing Wage is Key to Immigration Reform
Listen Now »