Congressman Kagen Introduces bill to end discrimination in health insurance

[undeterred]

2/14/2008

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. took another step towards guaranteeing access to affordable health care for all of us today by introducing his No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act, which will bring an end to the practice of allowing insurance companies to deny coverage to any citizen because of a pre-existing medical condition.

“By working together, we will put discrimination where it belongs – in the past,” said Kagen. “Our Constitution protects all citizens – even those who are ill - against discrimination, and it is time to establish this fundamental principle in health care.”

The No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act also brings transparency to the health care marketplace. This new bill would require all health insurance companies to openly disclose their prices, and also requires them to charge every citizen within a designated region the same fee for the same service.

“Ending discrimination in health insurance is the right thing to do, and it will reduce costs for care everywhere in these United States. Simply put, if you’re a citizen, you’re in – with no discrimination against you due to pre-existing medical conditions,” said Kagen.

In a letter to Congressman Kagen, Anna Burger, International Secretary-Treasurer of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), commented, “We commend you for introducing legislation that highlights the urgent need for insurance reforms.” Burger noted that SEIU, which represents 1.9 million workers, is “strongly committed to fundamental health care reform to fix our broken health care system.”

Charles M. Loveless, Director of Legislation for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), said, on behalf of AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, “I am writing to express our strong support for the No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act of 2008 and to thank you for your leadership in addressing an important health insurance problem for many Americans. We greatly appreciate that your bill will ensure that public employees are treated fairly and that nonfederal governmental health plans will be prohibited from discriminating against individual participants on the basis of health status or pre-existing conditions in their health care coverage.”

Ronald F. Pollack, Executive Director of FamiliesUSA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans, also commended Congressman Kagen saying, “Your legislation will move towards the goal of reducing the number of uninsured and underinsured by prohibiting discrimination due to pre-existing medical conditions.”

Bill McLin, Executive Director of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, said “Patients diagnosed with asthma or severe allergies need to be under the care of trained health professionals, not discriminated against by health insurance companies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America supports the No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act and commends Congressman Kagen for his efforts to reform the health care system in our nation. Thank you for your dedication to improving the health care of all Americans.”

“The principles in the No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act are based on my thirty-plus years of practicing medicine. It addresses one of the primary obstacles blocking access to care for millions of Americans,” declared Congressman Kagen.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=118285

:woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :applause: :woohoo: Thank you, Dr. Kagen! :woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :applause: :woohoo:

http://www.kagen4congress.com/contribute/

[kb9vrg]

1. Not a bad second step...

...The first being getting the Wellstone bill for mental health parity passed.

Half the reason I keep the job I hate is because I surely could not afford being denied insurance for the pre-exisiting conditions that my wife and I both have.

You don't get declined for new car insurance just because you had a speeding ticket 10 years previously, why should health insurance be any different?

[undeterred]

2. Superdelegate Kagen will back the candidate those in his district support

Voters to determine Kagen's choice
Lawmaker to back candidate those in district support

By Ellyn Ferguson
Post-Crescent Washington bureau

WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve Kagen, one of Wisconsin's superdelegates, won't decide which Democratic presidential candidate to back until after Tuesday's presidential primary. Kagen, D-Appleton, said he'd take his cue from voters in his 8th Congressional District. "What I plan to do is listen to the will of the people in my district. As they go, so will I," Kagen said Thursday.

While several Wisconsin superdelegates say they've been courted by the presidential campaigns, Kagen said he's received no calls and no pressure from either New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Superdelegates are valuable convention votes because they are essentially free agents who are not bound by primary or caucus results to back a candidate.

"Every day on the House floor, there are advocates of one side or the other that ask me where I'm standing," Kagen said. But he has not been pressured to commit to anyone. Kagen said he wants "a president with good judgment. We're very fortunate we have candidates I believe will make a real difference in the lives of the people I represent."

Melissa Schroeder, an uncommitted superdelegate from Merrill, said both campaigns have called her. She's spoken with Obama's wife, Michelle, and Clinton's daughter, Chelsea. Schroeder, a caseworker for Rep. Dave Obey, does not plan to announce whom she will support at the national convention in Denver until after Tuesday's primary.

She hopes to arrange meetings with Clinton and Obama at Saturday's Wisconsin Democratic Party's Founders Day Gala at Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee. As of Thursday, six of Wisconsin's Democratic superdelegates had declared for a candidate.

Wisconsin has 18 unpledged Democratic delegates who are not bound by primary or caucus outcomes. Sixteen of them are so-called superdelegates automatically chosen because of elected or party posts they hold. Two additional unpledged delegates will be selected from candidates who file for the positions. Wisconsin will have a total of 92 delegates at the national convention.

:headbang: People in the 8th district, your Congressman ROCKS! :yourock:

What a great way for a representative to choose an endorsement in such a close election.

[RevCheesehead]

3. He's the BEST!

I :loveya: Steve!!!

[Viking12]

5. 'tis the way it should be.....

I'm outside the 8th district (barely, less than a mile), but you'll have my support in November. I wish we could put up a candidate in the 6th to challenge the dipshit that represnts our area.

[undeterred]

7. You have Roger Kittelson running in the 6th

http://www.kittelsonforcongress.com/index.php

He's an excellent candidate. I will be coming up from the 2nd to help on his campaign in the Dodge county area.

[LiberalFighter]

9. I disagree with Kagen's plan

See my response regarding Kind's same plan <here>.

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. I LOVE this guy!

Thanks a bunch Steve!

(from someone with a MAJOR pre-existing condition)

:woohoo:

[dragonlady]

6. Here's his essay posted on daily Kos and Huffington

Our Constitution protects every citizen against discrimination, the result of long and hard-won gains by ordinary people who for decades showed extraordinary courage fighting for change. Applying these fundamental gains to our health care system is the right thing to do, because my patients and my constituents cannot hold their breath any longer.

That's why I've introduced the No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act. This essential legislation will guarantee access to affordable care for every citizen in America by bringing an end to discriminatory practices employed by insurance companies who deny life-saving coverage to millions of Americans solely because of their pre-existing medical conditions.

And I love this next paragraph!

The reality is our nation's insurance industry has been successful beyond all measure by dividing and conquering almost all Americans. They've divided neighbor from neighbor, and even mother from child, by insuring individuals instead of entire communities. We can begin to heal our nation by putting unity back into community ratings.

This addresses exactly what is wrong with our health care system. The insurance model has never been applied to basic rights like primary and secondary education, fire and police protection, public health inspections, and so forth. We spread the cost across everyone in our society, because society as a whole benefits when everyone shares in these services. Health care should be treated the same.

The whole essay is here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/14/192016/348/655/457013

[LiberalFighter]

8. I'm totally against ending discriminating in health insurance...

All Republicans should be denied insurance.

[dragonlady]

10. Can we let them have it if they undergo the Dem initiation ritual?

That would seem only fair.

[LiberalFighter]

11. If they are waterboarded?

[dragonlady]

12. No, of course not, Dems don't approve of torture

We have other ways.

[undeterred]

13. And his wife Gayle is wonderful too...

U.S. Rep. Kagen: Gayle Kagen leads a national effort to help veterans
2/11/2008

(Appleton, WI) Veterans will have easier access to valuable social services thanks to the efforts of Gayle Kagen and the United Way. As President of the Freshman Congressional Spouses Class of the 110th Congress, Gayle brought together the United Way and the National Military Families Association in support of 2-1-1, a national effort to make the three digit call centers a single point of contact for veterans and their families seeking counseling and other services.

“After a visit to Walter Reed Hospital, we decided, as a group, to dedicate ourselves to meeting the needs of military families,” said Gayle. “These social services were available, but many veterans were not taking advantage of them. We sought to simplify the process by creating a national hotline.”

Gayle Kagen contacted United Way Fox Cities, to discuss how 2-1-1 could provide resources for veterans and their families. The local contact led to discussion on a national level with United Way of America’s Director of 2-1-1, Linda Daily.

The 2-1-1 call centers offer access to resources for counseling, shelter, food banks, health resources, child care, financial literacy and job training programs. Almost two out of every ten U.S. soldiers who have faced combat in Iraq may return with serious symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study released by the New England Journal of Medicine. Currently, less than 40% of the returning soldiers in need and afflicted by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seek help.

The Congressional Spouse class is also working with the National Military Family Association (NMFA), which was founded by wives of soldiers in order to create a resource and support system for spouses and children of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Congressman Kagen applauded the project, “Our veterans have served our country honorably, and we must do everything we can to help them and their families. Gayle has done a tremendous job in bringing together these two organizations. The 2-1-1 program proves that by working together, we will build a better nation for all of us.”

Rep. Kagen is a co-sponsor The 2-1-1 Act which will extend this service nationwide and the author of the Rural Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act, which would provide eligible veterans with vouchers to pay for necessary mental health services at local private facilities if they live more than 30 miles from a VA facility.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=117883

[rodeodance]

14. great news.thanks