Dental Insurance Introduction

by Jenny Gill

Senate Leaders Hold Closed-Door Meeting To Discuss Health Care Overhaul Legislation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) in a Wednesday meeting that included other Senate leaders discussed plans for health care overhaul legislation to be proposed next year, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 11/19).

Connecticut Attorney General Calls For Rebidding Of State Health Insurance Programs, Governor Says Move Is Unnecessary
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) on Monday recommended that the state Department of Social Services rebid contracts with managed care organizations for HUSKY and the Charter Oak health plan, but Gov.

Obama Appoints Former Sen. Daschle As HHS Secretary, Democratic Officials Say
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has accepted an offer from President-elect Barack Obama to become the new HHS secretary, according to Democratic officials, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (Freking, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 11/19).

Michigan Attorney General Says Lawmakers Should Not Pass Health Insurance Legislation In Lame-Duck Session
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox (R) and consumer advocates on Tuesday asked the state Legislature to abandon plans to approve legislation in the upcoming lame-duck session that would allow Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state's insurer of last resort, to restructure, the

Average Annual Deductible For Individual Employer-Sponsored PPO Now Over $1,000, According To Survey
The increasing cost of health care in the U.S. has prompted more U.S. employers to shift a larger portion of the expenses to their workers, pushing the average annual PPO deductible in 2008 for a single worker to more than $1,000, according to a study released on Wednesday by Mercer , the

AHIP, BCBS Say They Support Guaranteed Coverage For People With Pre-Existing Health Conditions, As Long As All Individuals Required To Obtain Cover
America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in separate announcements on Wednesday said that they would support guaranteed health coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions, as long as lawmakers also approve an enforceable requirement that all U.S. residents obtain coverage, the

Analysis Examines Cost Of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage; Report Looks At Medicare Part D Plan Changes; More
"Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance --A Comparison of the Availability and Cost of Coverage for Workers in Small Firms and Large Firms," Kaiser Family Foundation: The analysis, part of the Foundation's online

President-Elect Obama Likely To Pick CBO Director Orszag As Director Of U.S. Office Of Management And Budget
President-elect Barack Obama reportedly plans to name Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, the AP/Miami Herald reports (Taylor, AP/Miami Herald, 11/19).

Board Adopts Recommendations To Overhaul Oregon Health Care System
The Oregon Health Fund Board on Monday unanimously adopted recommendations to overhaul the state's health care system and provide coverage to all state residents by 2019, the Oregonian reports.

Automaker Bankruptcies Would Require Taxpayers To Pay $3B Annually For Health Care, UAW President Gettelfinger Says
Taxpayers would have to pay at least $3 billion annually in the event that the Big Three automakers --General Motors, Chrysler and Ford --have to file for bankruptcy and no longer pay for retiree health care,