News from the White House

[kentuck]

Good afternoon,

9 -- that's number of states and the District of Columbia where there is still no specific law that makes it illegal for insurers to reject applicants who are survivors of domestic violence by citing the history of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.1

Unfortunately, the gender inequalities across our broken heath care system don't end there. In many states, insurance companies can still discriminate on the basis of gender -- charging women higher premiums than men simply because of their gender or denying coverage because of so-called "pre-existing conditions" like being pregnant, experiencing a prior pregnancy complication, or having undergone a C-section. And health plans in the individual market often do not cover basic maternity care.

President Obama's proposal for health insurance reform would end the days of discrimination based on gender. Insurance companies would be banned from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition and would have to cover preventative care like mammograms.

For America's women and families, the time is now for health insurance reform.

Learn More

9 is the latest number in ‘Health Reform by the Numbers,' our online campaign to raise awareness about why we just can't wait any longer for health insurance reform. Help spread the word by sharing this message with your family, friends and online networks.

Let's get it done.
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

P.S. Still have questions about what reform means for you and your family? Tune in tonight at 5:15 p.m. EDT and get your questions answered live by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

1 National Women's Law Center, Still Nowhere to Turn

Visit WhiteHouse.gov

[MrCoffee]

1. When did the WH stop calling it "Health Care Reform" and start calling it

"Health Insurance Reform"?

[kentuck]

2. Probably when...

they realized there could be no healthcare reform without reforming the insurance system first? Perhaps Democrats should look at this as the first step and keep their elected Representatives' feet to the fire to make sure this is the beginning and not the end. This is probably a good start, considering that it has taken us a hundred years to get here.

[Schema Thing]

6. Also, they realized that everyone agrees on insurance reform, but

Republicans can too easily frighten people that "health care" reform means government control of doctors, nurses, hospitals, etc.


It's bullshit, but it was getting traction.

[Schema Thing]

3. quite a long time ago

[laughingliberal]

5. Probably right after the deal with AHIP and the hospital lobby. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. On the campaign trail.

I was watching something, one of the debates?, I can't remember exactly, but O used the phrase "health insurance reform" instead of "healthcare reform" like he always did. All of us watching immediately picked up on that subtle change and made comments about it.

A sign of what was to come, clearly. :(

[Raineyb]

12. About a year ago. n/t

[Fridays Child]

4. At about the age of thirteen, girls' individual plan premiums usually double...

...on the basis of their pre-existing vaginas. Do the premiums for males double, when they become able to impregnate females?

[Tailormyst]

7. "health ~insurance~ reform"

Not health ~care~ reform.

Someone slipped on the propaganda !!!!!

[kentuck]

8. That's right.

Health insurance reform. But how do you get healthcare reform without reforming the insurance system first?? This is a small first step. We should not look at this as the end but the beginning. We have to keep the heat on.

[Tailormyst]

10. I hope you have enough optimism for the both of us !

Because frankly, I have run out.

[kentuck]

11. We have no choice ...

but to keep fighting.