Looking Back At Health Insurance And Health Care In 2008
Jan 7, 2009 Health Insurance
That there has been an elevated level of interest in health care and health insurance across the country should come as no surprise. So it could be expected that 2008 brought an unusually large amount of legislation activity to the issues, clearly led on by public persuasion.
Health benefits occurred across the food spectrum, as dark chocolate finally got its day. It was determined that dark chocolate does contribute to better blood circulation, as well as lowering blood pressure. And in May, McDonald’s decided to stop the use of oils containing trans fats in U.S. and Canada restaurants. Eating french fries won’t quite be the same. And more regarding trans fats, the state of California became the first state in the nation to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants.
The year brought a lot of state level activity as well. For the second time in three years, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation that would have provided a single payer system. Though a proponent of comprehensive health care reform, he stated that the plan would place too much of a financial burden on the state. Hawaii’s Governor Linda Lingle axed the state’s universal health care insurance program for children, citing budget constraints. And in Massachusetts, which already has a state subsidized health insurance program, lawmakers were forced to raise premiums. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Charlie Crist was able to pass a law for affordable insurance coverage through a new plan that stood out for its simplicity.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama committed to making health care reform one of his top priorities. As the President-elect, he moved swiftly in that direction, naming former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle as his choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Daschle has long considered health care to be of greatest importance. U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy relinquished his seat on the Senate Judiciary committee in order to work on a comprehensive health care plan, stating that, “This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Nationally, lawmakers passed a law that disallows health insurance companies to discriminate based on genetic information. And the health insurance industry also agreed to terms that would disallow coverage in the presence of pre-existing conditions, with the existence of a universal health insurance mandate in place. So there was much activity in 2008 and the issue will continue to grow in importance as the new Congress convenes.
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