Prescription for Change Archives

Reform issues:

• How Much Is Too Much
  Have nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans amassed excessive amounts of surplus? (July 22, 2010)
• Health insurance facts across several states
  (June 17, 2010)
• Web portal to compare health insurance options
  CU recommends the Health and Human Services conduct consumer testing of web portal. (May 21, 2010)
• Steps need to be taken to rein in unreasonable increases of premiums
  CU recommends review of all premium rate increases and full public disclosure within the Public Health Service Act. (May 14, 2010)
• Health insurers to spend a percentage of premiums to improve health care quality
  CU comments on the future Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) standards, to be established under Section 2718 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act). (May 14, 2010)
• CU urges for temporary high risk health insurance pool program
  Letter to Secretary Sebelius outlines four conditions that should be met by any pool or plan that participates (April 14, 2010)
• What will you get under health reform?
  Find out what benefits you'll get, when they'll be available and how the key provisions will work (April 1, 2010)
• Consumer Options When Medicare Advantage Plans Withdraw or Change Their Benefits
  Medicare Advantage plans may undergo change whether a major health reform bill passes or not. Are you in a Medicare Advantage plan? What will the changes mean for you? (March 10, 2010)
• Consumers need health reform benefits now
  After a year of open and public debate, and numerous hearings, bills, and votes, the time to give Americans better, fairer, and more affordable health care is now. (March 9, 2010)
• Letter to Washington: finish meaningful reform
  Consumers Union joined the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the America Nurses Association and many others to ask Washington leadership to conclude its bipartisan summit with an agreement to move ahead with meaningful health care reform this year. (February 22, 2010)
• What is government-run health care -- and what isn't
  “Government-run health care” is an expression that has been used to inflame rather than inform. Discover what health programs are run by the government, and how they provide popular health care to millions of Americans (February 20, 2010)
• How do consumers fare?
  In 2009, Consumers Union identified the criteria that we would use to analyze the promised health care proposals. We are now down to a single Senate bill and a single House bill. How do consumers fare? (January 12, 2010)
• What would the best bill look like?
  Making sure health insurance policies are actually affordable for those who must buy them is our top priority in the coming weeks, and should be Congress' top priority as well. (January 11, 2010)
• Getting the best possible health insurance marketplace
  In the absence of a public plan option, a robust national insurance exchange is the best way to force companies to compete on price and quality. (January 10, 2010)
• CU President's Letter to House Leadership
  On January 6th, 2010, President Jim Guest asked Congressional leaders to make sure the final health reform bill is affordable for American families who will be required to purchase health coverage. (January 6, 2010)
• More transparency needed in insurance marketplace
  Standardized benefits and costs will help consumers make best insurance choices (December 7, 2009)
• Coalition supports comparative effectiveness research in Senate bill
  (December 4, 2009)
• Why Consumers Union supports the House health reform bill (H.R. 3962)
  We reviewed HR 3962 based on our decades of experience analyzing incremental health reforms at the state and federal levels, and here's why we decided to endorse H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. (November 6, 2009)
• Will “Actuarial Value” standards make it easier to pick a plan?
  Right now, insurance companies offer lots of plans, but it's hard to know if your money is well spent. (November 2, 2009)
• Our Prescription for Change
  The limited reform efforts of the past 20 years have not succeeded in clamping down on soaring health care costs, stemming the number of uninsured or reducing unsafe care. We need not half steps but real change--a uniquely American solution based on the system we already have. (September 29, 2009)
• The health care reforms consumers need
  If you like your health insurance coverage, you won't have to change. For everyone else, there are new comprehensive, affordable, understandable coverage options. (September 28, 2009)
• Beware of myths generating fear about reform
  Consumer Reports examines five things people fear about health reform. (September 28, 2009)
• Giving patients the right care at the right time
  Far too many patients do not receive the care they need. An unacceptable portion of the care we receive is unsafe and even harmful. Too often doctors and consumers lack basic information about which treatments work best. (September 28, 2009)
• Comparative Effectiveness: Common-sense research that saves lives, money
  CU supports funding in stimulus bill for an independent, unbiased research to compare the effectiveness and safety of drugs, treatments and surgeries. (September 27, 2009)
• A public plan or a Co-op: What's it all about?
  New insurance options: Learn about the proposed public plan (why we need one), the proposed alternative "health care co-ops, and how they compare side by side. (September 27, 2009)
• What's broken?
  Health care spending represents one fifth of our economy, yet by all accounts we are not getting good value for our money. Why? (September 27, 2009)
• Apples-to-Apples: Simplifying health insurance choices
  As lawmakers develop health reform, they have the opportunity to fix the way we shop for insurance with consumer-friendly rules and ratings. (September 26, 2009)
• To delay is deadly: why we need to stop hospital infections now
  Consumers Union examines the hospital industry's track record in reducing infections since the Institute of Medicine announced the urgent need to do so ten years ago. See our report and visit our dedicated patient safety campaign website. (September 25, 2009)
• Reality and reason in health reform legislation
  Addressing the myths about rationing, penalties and punishment in the health reform bills (August 17, 2009)
• What would it mean to have insurance as 'Good as Congress gets?'
  Basic facts about the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which often is held up as a model for reform (July 30, 2009)
• Best consumer protections when choosing a health plan
  New study finds a manageable choice of standardized health benefit packages, with an annual out-of-pocket limit, gives consumers the best deal (July 29, 2009)
• CU's Prescription for Change: Better health care
  It's time for real reforms that deal with soaring costs, unaffordable health coverage, and ending poor and unsafe care. We lay out our arguments for change. (June 30, 2009)
• Ways to reduce the cost of health insurance
  CU suggests cost savings for employers, employees and their families in House testimony (June 26, 2009)
• Pharmaceutical provisions in House reform bill
  CU lays out ways for extra savings through generics, more transparency in drug company marketing (June 26, 2009)
• Apples-to-Apples: Simplifying health insurance choices
  As lawmakers develop health reform, they have the opportunity to fix the way we shop for insurance with consumer-friendly rules and ratings. (June 17, 2009)
• Rockefeller bill calls for public option, insurance quality ratings
  CU supports effort to introduce competition to bring down costs, improve quality of coverage (June 17, 2009)
• Sen. Kennedy's reform bill will help families get access to affordable, dependable care
  CU says bill will help bring peace-of-mind to all Americans struggling with unaffordable health care (June 15, 2009)
• Incentives needed to encourage healthy lifestyles, improve access to preventive services
  Too many insurance products not desgined to encourage wellness and prevention (June 15, 2009)
• Consumers Union's priorities for health reform
  More choices, safer and quality care, and scientific evidence to make good health care decisions (June 9, 2009)
• Reforming delivery of health care to improve quality, save money
  CU comments and presents further recommendations. (June 9, 2009)
• CU examines coverage expansion policy options
  Benefit options, the public plan and health insurance exchanges (May 31, 2009)
• Financing health care reform: Business as usual won't get us where we need to be
  CU offers suggestions to Senate Finance panel's work on financing health care reform (May 28, 2009)
• Consumers Union's priorities for health reform
  More choices, safer and quality care, and scientific evidence to make good health care decisions (April 30, 2009)
• Empowering consumers in a new health insurance marketplace
  CU outlines needed reforms to help consumers get good, quality coverage (April 29, 2009)
• Health insurance market "Exhibit A" for why we need health reform
  CU lays out steps needed to give consumers a fair, affordable and dependable coverage (April 21, 2009)
• Recession's impact on Medicare fund another reason to do health reform now
  Pending Medicare report could show that surplus could be exhausted much sooner than expected (April 10, 2009)
• Keeping medical errors, hospital infections secret costs lives
  Consumers Union urges public transparency in our health care system so consumers can know about safety, quality and real health costs. (April 3, 2009)
• Comparative Effectiveness: Common-sense research that saves lives, money
  CU supports funding in stimulus bill for an independent, unbiased research to compare the effectiveness and safety of drugs, treatments and surgeries. (April 2, 2009)
• Giving Americans real health care choice in an affordable, dependable public plan option
  Insurance-industry controlled market leaves consumers with unreliable, unaffordabe and unpopular health coverage (April 1, 2009)
• Health reform must include public reporting of medical errors, hospital infections
  CU supports proposal to deny payments to hospitals for poor quality care of patients in health reform (April 1, 2009)
• Setting out methods to conduct comparative effectiveness research
  Consumers Union's testifies before Institute of Medicine on framework for what medical treatments are most effective (March 20, 2009)
• Generic biologics bill will help save money on life-saving drugs
  Rep. Waxman's proposal will bring compeition to growing drug sector (March 12, 2009)
• Drug effectiveness research results should be on DTC ads
  CU supports bill by Sen. Reed to clearly report in advertisements and labeling the results of comparing a drug's effectiveness (February 26, 2009)
• Research priorities should help eliminate racial, ethnic disparities in care
  Comparative-effectiveness research is 'golden opportunity' to examine diseases that greatly impact minorities (February 26, 2009)
• Helping the underinsured in national health care reform]]>">Helping the underinsured in national health care reform
  CU's tesifies before Senate HELP on risk of being underinsured. The cause may be a pink slip, a major accident, serious illness, or being eligible only for a loophole-laden individual policy. (February 24, 2009)
• High health care costs, health security, addressed in proposal
  CU supports AmeriCare Health Care Act and suggests refinements (February 19, 2009)

Consumers Union News Releases

• Nonprofit BCBS Health Plans amass billions in surplus
  Health insurers set aside billions of dollars in surplus – essentially retained profits – even as they raised premiums for consumers. (July 22, 2010)
• Berwick appointed to head Medicare, Medicaid
  CU: Berwick will make a fundamental difference in improving the way the system works (July 7, 2010)
• CU board chair Teresa Moran Schwartz nominated for Health Advisory Panel
  Teresa is a visionary whose experience, integrity, and common-sense ability to get results make her an ideal choice to serve the public interest (July 6, 2010)
• CR Health: How to navigate the newly reformed health care system
  New report explains what consumers need to watch for; lays out next steps (May 4, 2010)
• Health reform poised to make health care safer
  New health care reform law includes important patient safety provisions that will save lives and dollars (March 31, 2010)
• CU applauds House passage of health care bill
  The House passed health care legislation which will now move the Senate for a floor vote (March 21, 2010)
• CU endorses health reform legislation
  Once passed, CU plans to help consumers understand how reforms will affect them (March 19, 2010)
• CU to launch DC ad to push for health reform
  CU has spotlighted the skyrocketing costs of medical bills & the stories of Americans who have lost coverage (March 8, 2010)
• States lack power to stop health insurance hikes
  Anthem premium increase in California highlights how many states don't have authority to protect consumers (February 24, 2010)
• Many states lack power to protect consumers from premium hikes
  Anthem Blue Cross' 39% increase in California illustrates why national reform is needed (February 24, 2010)
• House health reform bill goes long way toward solving health care crisis, CU says
  Consumer protections, more affordable and secure health coverage, cited in endorsement (November 4, 2009)
• CU President to testify in Senate on health reform
  Jim Guest will testify at a Senate hearing on the importance of health care reform for women (October 14, 2009)
• CU launches first TV ad for health reform
  CR Poll: 51 percent forced to make tough health choices in past year such as skipping doctor visits (October 5, 2009)
• Consumers get best protections when plans offer set benefits, cap out-of-pocket costs
  Report: reform should have clear, meaningful benefit choices and financial protections so no one faces devastating health costs (July 30, 2009)
• House health reform bill: The road to reform
  Bill ensures virtually every American will have opportunity for affordable, comprehensive health care (July 15, 2009)
• Best price insurance plans now among most expensive
  Analysis shows many best-priced insurance plans in 2006 among worst deals today. The price instability in these private plans underscores the need to include a public option in any reform plan. (July 7, 2009)
• New report recommends 100 health topics that should get top priority
  CU President Jim Guest on panel that prioritizes comparative effectiveness research (June 30, 2009)
• CU offers prescription for health reform in August issue of Consumer Reports
  Magazine unveils rare, seven-page editorial in favor of reforming nation’s health care system (June 26, 2009)
• Put people front and center in health reform
  CU joins Commonwealth Fund in releasing report that finds insurance exchange, choice of public option, key to reform (June 11, 2009)
• CR Poll: 66% support a public health care plan
  Americans support having the option of a public health insurance plan as part of health care reform. (April 29, 2009)
• Cover America Tour ends in Washington, D.C.
  Cross-country tour on challenges Americans face getting affordable, high quality health care reaches nation's capitol (September 23, 2008)
• U.S. Census: 45.7 million Americans uninsured
  CU's Cover America Tour puts a face on the uninsured and others struggling to afford health care (August 26, 2008)
• Cover America Tour passes half way point
  Cross-country tour is chronicling Americans' anxiety over health care as debate over reform heats up (July 31, 2008)
• Cover America Tour arrives in Austin, TX
  News conference at Austin's People's Community Clinic highlights health care challenges for Texans. (July 17, 2008)
• Cover America Tour in SC for Patient Safety Day
  July 4th BBQ held in South Carolina to raise awareness about medical errors and the need to improve patient care (July 4, 2008)
• Cover America Tour stops in Nashville
  Tour teams up with TN Health Care Campaign to highlight how Americans are struggling with high health care costs (June 26, 2008)
• Cover America Tour reaches Pittsburgh
  News conference highlights report that most states don't protect consumers who buy their own health insurance (June 12, 2008)
• Cover America Tour comes to Portsmouth, NH
  Senators Fuller Clark & Hassan & Rep. Grassie welcome road tour to highlight problems getting health care (June 3, 2008)
• Launch of the Cover America Tour
  RV road tour will highlight the problems Americans have with health care coverage (May 28, 2008)

Consumer Reports Health

• Consumers can't wait any longer for health reform
  Reform proposals have passed both chambers of Congress by a majority vote; now they effectively await final passage. (March 8, 2010)
• How the system would work
  Here are the most critical facts about how reform would affect you and your family. (February 28, 2010)
• Shopping for insurance after reform
  How the exchanges would work, looking at the Massachusetts model. (February 26, 2010)
• What you'll get from reform right away
  The biggest changes start in 2014, but some things happen much sooner. (February 25, 2010)
• Will health reform raise my taxes?
  Not unless your income is very high. (February 23, 2010)
• A prescription for health care
  Almost all agree that the health system is broken. Here's how Consumers Union would fix it. (June 26, 2009)
• Five common fears about health care reform
  The realities behind the fearful talk (June 26, 2009)
• Protect your medical coverage
  Explore your options to get the best insurance plan for your money (June 15, 2009)
• Hazardous health plans
  Coverage gaps in your insurance policy can leave you in big trouble (May 15, 2009)
• Taking your pulse
  We videotaped almost 100 of you and spoke with thousands more. As Consumers Union works for health-care reform, your input has helped us define the issues and identify solutions. (November 23, 2008)
• Hospitals will have to pay for their mistakes
  2.4 million Americans suffer each year from an error or infection that occurs while they’re in the hospital for something else. Medicare, private insurers, or the patients are typically billed for the additional care they need to recover from hospital mistakes. (September 11, 2008)
• The road to better health care
  Many Americans get too little health care; others get the wrong kind. We're paying for tests that aren't medically justified, surgery that's unneeded, and medical errors that are costly and sometimes deadly. (July 25, 2008)
• Helping to make drugs and food safer for the world
  We work closely, actively, and proudly as a member of Consumers International, a federation of consumer groups from 115 countries. (June 26, 2008)
• Six prescriptions for change
  Our survey shows what Americans demand of health reform. (March 19, 2008)
• Activists help reduce hospital infections
  It's been four years since Sandi Grello of Allentown, Pa., had hip surgery. Her hip joint healed just fine, but the antibiotic-resistant staph infection she got in the hospital still affects her life. (February 10, 2008)
• On their own
  Far from a remedy, individual health insurance is a world of pain. (January 18, 2008)
• Winning a fight for stronger drug-safety laws
  When Kim Witczak of Minneapolis talks about a new federal law that aims to make prescription drugs safer, you realize the issue is personal." (December 14, 2007)
• Health-care tales of woe
  There's a compelling theme running through most of your stories: Almost every aspect of health care is expensive. (November 18, 2007)
• Are you really covered?
  Why 4 in 10 Americans can't depend on their health insurance (September 13, 2007)
• Raise your voice on health care
  These days, Congress is debating various health-care bills, some states are taking matters into their own hands, and the presidential candidates are crafting widely diverse strategies for reworking the system. (September 4, 2007)
• Emergency rooms crisis
  The nation’s emergency rooms are facing their own crisis. (July 20, 2007)
• Health insurance for children
  As the national debate intensifies over health insurance, one group of Americans simply doesn’t have the voice to be heard: children. There are more than 8 million of them without insurance in our nation, and if Congress fails to fund an existing program, about 4.4 million more could end up without basic health-care coverage. (March 13, 2007)