WASHINGTON The explosive politics of health care have divided the nation, but Americas governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, suggest that President Barack Obamas health care overhaul is here tostay.

While governors from Connecticut to Louisiana sparred Sunday over how best to improve the nations economy, governors of both parties shared a far more pragmatic outlook on the controversial program known as Obamacare as millions of their constituents begin to becovered.

Were just trying to make the best of a bad situation, said Republican Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa, who called the health care law

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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he had a productive meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Sunday to discuss options to preserve the states waiver from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behindlaw.

The governor said in a statement that there is a realistic path tosuccess.

He said hell talk next with state lawmakers and the superintendent about the statesoptions.

WASHINGTON The explosive politics of health care have divided the nation, but Americas governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, suggest that President Barack Obamas health care overhaul is here tostay.

While governors from Connecticut to Louisiana sparred Sunday over how best to improve the nations economy, governors of both parties shared a far more pragmatic outlook on the controversial program known as Obamacare as millions of their constituents begin to becovered.

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Governors: Health care law here to stay - Mon, 24 Feb 2014 PST

THE measures to aid older Singaporeans with health-care costs are not just about providing monetary assistance but also strengthening family ties.

That was the view of both MP Lily Neo and Tsao Foundation chairman Mary Ann Tsao at The Straits Times Budget Roundtable discussion.

They noted that the nature of the benefits in last Friday's Budget will help both young and old, as it means elderly Singaporeans can have a greater degree of independence while reducing their financial reliance on their children.

That encompasses the key message from the Government: That part of the burden of health costs will be borne by the state and community and not just individual households.

A Budget highlight was the Pioneer Generation Package, which consists of lifelong health-care benefits for some 450,000 pioneers.

It includes subsidies for outpatient care, Medisave top-ups and MediShield Life subsidies, all to be paid for from an $8 billion fund set aside in the Budget.

Both Dr Tsao and Dr Neo agreed health-care costs were a key concern for the elderly, and said the pioneer package would help ease worries the older generation may have about being a burden to their children.

Dr Tsao said: "When you take that away, the older person is in control of their own health care without feeling that they're burdening their children. The children also feel that they don't have to be as burdened. This shifts their relationship to a more positive way."

Dr Neo added: "With this in place... they would have a better relationship and they can also live happily with their family members."

They also praised the Budget for including help not only with insurance premiums but also with specialist outpatient costs, and for extending this aid to lower- and middle-income Singaporeans.

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Health-care help for older S'poreans will boost family ties

Feb. 23, 2014 @ 11:24 PM

STEVE PEOPLES and KEN THOMAS

WASHINGTON -- The explosive politics of health care have divided the nation, but America's governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, suggest that President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is here to stay.

While governors from Connecticut to Louisiana sparred Sunday over how best to improve the nation's economy, governors of both parties shared a far more pragmatic outlook on the controversial program known as "Obamacare" as millions of their constituents begin to be covered.

"We're just trying to make the best of a bad situation," said Republican Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa, who called the health care law "unaffordable and unsustainable" yet something he has to implement by law. "We're trying to make it work as best we can for the people of Iowa."

As governors gathered in Washington this weekend, Democrats such as Maryland's Martin O'Malley and Connecticut's Dannel Malloy made pitches to raise the minimum wage, while Republicans such as Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Indiana's Mike Pence called for more freedom from federal regulations, particularly those related to the health insurance overhaul.

But governors from both parties say a full repeal of the law would be complicated at best, if not impossible, as states move forward with implementation and begin covering millions of people -- both by expanding Medicaid rolls for lower-income residents or through state or federal exchanges that offer federal subsidies to those who qualify.

Obama hosted most of the governors for a White House dinner Sunday night, calling for collaboration on the economy, education, climate change and health care in what he hopes will be "a year of action."

Republican opposition to the health care law is the centerpiece of the GOP's political strategy ahead of the midterm elections. And to be sure, not every GOP leader embraced the inevitability of the law's implementation.

"I don't think that it's so deeply entrenched that it can't be repealed," Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said. "But I do think, as we argue for repeal, we have to show folks what you replace it with."

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Governors: Health care overhaul is here to stay

By DONNA CASSATA Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans intent on highlighting the woes of President Barack Obama's health care law need to look no further than their own back yards, some of which are traditionally liberal strongholds.

Maryland's online health care exchange has been plagued by computer glitches since its rollout last year, reflected in abysmal enrollment numbers well below projections through January. The state's lone Republican in Congress, Rep. Andy Harris, has asked the inspector general of the federal Health and Human Services Department to investigate.

In Oregon, the online portal has struggled to sign up a single individual, and Republican Rep. Greg Walden recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office pressing for an inquiry. Officials in both states insist they are working to fix the problems.

"Everybody's pointing fingers at everyone else, so we have no idea why this went wrong," Harris, who was an anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital for 30 years, said in a recent interview.

Unified in their opposition to the law, Republicans have been relentless in focusing on its problems, from complaints of canceled policies to higher insurance premiums and Obama's unilateral decision to delay for two years the requirement that small businesses cover employees.

The GOP effort has intensified this election year as Republicans look to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the law, turning voter dismay into November victories. The ill effect of "Obamacare" is the GOP's constant refrain.

Nearly 3.3 million Americans have enrolled through the federal and state marketplaces as the federal online site worked out the problems of its disastrous rollout, a recent sign of promise for the 4-year-old law.

A silver lining for Democrats in the recent enrollment numbers is the actual sign-ups exceeding projected totals in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan and Colorado, according to the January figures. Three of those states have Senate Democrats who voted for the law and now face re-election - Kay Hagan in North Carolina, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire and Mark Udall in Colorado.

In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Gary Peters is trying to win the open seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Carl Levin.

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GOP intent on highlighting health care woes - NBC40.net

Written by: Nathan Warner on October 22, 2009.

Charging those with unhealthy habits is more fair than any alternative

click image to enlarge

One idea being tossed around in the current chaotic debate on health care is to instate a sin tax on unhealthy behaviors.

This idea is not new it has been endorsed and legislated worldwide for things like smoking and gasoline use. These Pigovian taxes (after economist Arthur Pigou) are intended to correct negative market externalities, unwanted consequences of economic activity that are experienced by unrelated third parties and in inefficient markets.

For example, all of humanity is affected by the environmental degradation inflicted by use of carbon fuels. But the incentive to drive less and thus contribute to less air pollution is, on the aggregate nonexistent.

There is no incentive for any single individual to drive less it is too much of an individual sacrifice. And it simply wont make a difference if the rest of society doesnt also change driving habits.

To rectify this, a high tax could be levied on gasoline. This would not explicitly prohibit driving but would decrease the total number of hours spent driving across society, thus lessening carbon emissions.

In other words, the externality would be corrected. Drivers would be made to internalize the full consequences of their decisions even those that affect others.

The same concept has been suggested regarding other sin behaviors actions that are entirely logical at the individual level but force high costs on unrelated parties who have no influence or choice on the action.

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Health care reform bill needs sin taxes