An analysis conducted by the GW School of Public Health and Health Services’ Department of Health Policy, concludes that the Amendment would produce industry-wide effects, leading to the elimination of health plan coverage for nearly all medically indicated abortions. Although the Amendment appears to address only plans that receive federal exchange subsidies, even health plans sold to private, large employers that purchase outside the exchange ultimately are likely to be affected, the analysis concludes. These findings are based on an assessment of the extent to which the health benefits services industry adjusts its products over time to conform to the regulatory environment in which it operates.

"Under national health reform, millions of women, including women who are covered by small employers (as employees or spouses or dependents of employees) as well as those who are currently uninsured, will receive their coverage through health insurance exchanges. By barring the sale of subsidized products that cover medically indicated abortions as part of a broader package of benefits, the Amendment can be expected to cause the industry to re-design its offerings in order to avoid violating the legal restrictions on abortion applicable to exchange products that receive subsidies," said Professor Sara Rosenbaum, JD, lead author and Chair of the Department of Health Policy. "The Amendment also can be expected to chill efforts to develop supplemental coverage for medically indicated abortions, because it appears to prohibit the joint administration of both a basic and supplemental product," Rosenbaum noted.

This week begins with a significant new straw in the political wind for President Obama to consider. The California Democratic Party has just sent him a formal and clear message: Stop making war in Afghanistan.

Overwhelmingly approved on Sunday by the California Democratic Party's 300-member statewide executive board, the resolution is titled "End the US Occupation and Air War in Afghanistan."

The resolution supports "a timetable for withdrawal of our military personnel" and calls for "an end to the use of mercenary contractors as well as an end to air strikes that cause heavy civilian casualties." Advocating multiparty talks inside Afghanistan, the resolution also urges Obama "to oversee a redirection of our funding and resources to include an increase in humanitarian and developmental aid."

While Obama weighs Afghanistan policy options, the California Democratic Party's adoption of the resolution is the most tangible indicator yet that escalation of the US war effort can only fuel opposition within the president's own party - opposition that has already begun to erode his political base.

With the passage of HR3962, fundraising emails from Democratic groups cheering the passage of the House healthcare bill have been issued faster than denials for service from healthcare corporations. Disappointingly, MoveOn, True Majority and Democracy for America are among them. They’re not just cheering, they’re exalting the bill’s public option as the best thing since sliced bread, despite the further degradation of women’s reproductive rights.

There is no doubt that these organizations have done great work on progressive issues, but on this legislation they are wrong. This bill is, so far, a very bad bill that will further enmesh corporations into our government and our daily lives without addressing the problem. It diminishes all of our rights, not just reproductive ones, by failing to recognize healthcare as a human right, not a commodity to be traded on Wall Street.

The measure’s public option, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), will only attract 6 million out of the 45 million uninsured Americans, and the monthly premium will likely be more costly than corporate premiums. So much for affordable healthcare.

And, it does next to nothing to help Americans who are now being gouged by healthcare corporations. “if you like your insurance--you get to keep it” has morphed into “if you have insurance, you have to keep it whether you like it or not, and if you don’t have it--you have to buy it.”

There are about 303 million people in the US and about 45 million of them are on Medicare. That means 258 million people are not on Medicare.

If you were allowed to enroll in Medicare and it meant:
1. You wouldn't have to pay anymore health insurance premiums, co-pays or deductibles.
2. Instead you would pay a 5% employee tax (increase of 3.55 over current 1.45% Medicare payroll tax)
3. You could go to any health provider and health facility in the entire country
4. There were no more "networks"
5. Medicare covered all medically necessary care as determined by you and your health provider including preventive care, dental, vision, mental health, prescriptions and long-term care.
6. Medical cdecisions were made by you and your health provider without interference by administrators
7. There were no more medical bankruptcies and foreclosures because of medical debt
8. There was no more suffering because you couldn't afford health care
9. There were fewer preventable deaths
10. Your doctor could spend more time with you and less time on the phone or doing paperwork
11. Your doctor was happier
12.The US health care costs would come under control
13. US businesses would no longer suffer under the burden of rising health insurance premiums
14. You had access to health care throughout your life no matter what you were doing - going to school, taking care of your family, starting your own business, etc
15. You wouldn't have to stay in a job you don't like for the health benefits
16. All people would have access to the same standard of care
would you join Medicare?

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