Health Care Wins And Losses In 2008

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.

There were some health related milestones in the food world in 2008. McDonald’s announced they would stop using trans fat laden oils to cook their french fries and baked goods in all their U.S. and Canada restaurants. And California became the first state in the nation to ban trans fats in restaurants. In more good news for arteries, dark chocolate was determined to be of value in lowering blood pressure and increasing blood circulation.

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.”

Federally, a law was passed that prohibits discrimination based on genetic information received by health insurance companies. And the health insurance industry also agreed to support a universal health insurance mandate which would include a plan that would prohibit denial of coverage to any person with pre-existing conditions. So 2008 was a very active year for health care and health insurance. That says something about the importance of the subject in the minds of the American people. If you find yourself with no individual health insurance, visit www.GoHealthInsurance.com for answers to your health insurance questions. They are the web’s top ranked provider of health care solutions and have an extensive selection of information to peruse.