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A Tax on Cosmetic Surgery - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:07 -0800

The Senate's proposed healthcare bill includes a novel approach to enhancing funding for reform: a five percent tax increase on cosmetic surgery. Procedures like tummy tucks, face lifts, hair plugs, collagen injections, Botox, or any other non-required procedure would get hit with the increase. The tax could raise as much as $6 billion.

If you think taxing superficial wealthy people to pay for the necessary health care of the poor sounds like a perfect idea, some people, namely cosmetic surgeons, say you got it all wrong. Statistics show that one-third of people who get plastic surgery make under $30,000 and 86 percent make less than $90,000. In addition, 85 percent of procedures are paid for by credit. So the tax would hit lower income people the hardest. Then again, maybe it makes sense to make cosmetic surgery even more out of reach in order to help fund basic healthcare needs. Still, more damaging to the cosmetic tax plan is the fact that a similar tax has so far failed in New Jersey, where it costs $3 trying to figure out what counts as "cosmetic" for every dollar raised from the tax.

Do you think the "botax" is worth a try?

If Women Have to Pay For Abortion, What Does It Cost?

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:52 -0800

The initial reaction to the Stupak amendment - which forbids coverage for abortion from a public insurance plan and prevents private insurers from covering abortions for anyone getting a tax credit - was not anger for many women, but "What? Health insurance covers abortions?!"

Looking into the issue, the Wall Street Journal found that eliminating abortion coverage would have almost no effect because so few women use insurance for the procedure. Women often pay out of pocket because they don't realize insurance covers abortion, or because they choose to keep it private from employer-provided plans or other subscribers, like parents and husbands.

So since many women are paying for their abortions now - and, unfortunately, more may be soon - what do they cost? Take this quiz to find out.

Take the quiz

Healthcare Bill Restricts Coverage For Abortions

TresSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

If you thought Democrats were pro-choice, you might want to think again. The recently passed healthcare bill coming out of the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives could significantly decrease access to abortion even for Americans on private insurance plans.

After a 290-194 vote, the House passed an amendment Saturday that bans the use of federal funds to cover abortion for anyone using the public healthcare plan. The amendment also prevents private insurers from covering abortions for anyone getting a tax credit to help pay premiums. The amendment is being called the biggest victory in years for abortion opponents.

Under the bill, there will be many more Americans receiving tax credits to help pay for insurance - any family of four making less than $88,000 a year will be eligible for the subsidies, and if they take the credits, they will not be allowed to use them to purchase a plan that covers abortion. Pro-choice advocates argue that the new legislation will lower access to abortion coverage even for those receiving no tax aide because private insurance companies will have an incentive to drop abortion coverage from their plans so they can compete for customers receiving federal subsidies. The implications could be substantial since right now 90 percent of insurers cover abortion to some extent.

Pressure from conservative Democrats and the pro-life lobby helped get the amendment passed. While I'm not surprised abortion isn't being treated like every other legal medical procedure, I am a little shocked that the bill's implications go so far to limit abortion coverage for women who are not receiving any federal funding. Do you think the House did the right thing?

Rape Victim Denied Healthcare For Taking Anti-AIDS Drug

TresSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I'll admit that I didn't know anything about the anti-AIDS medication given to rape victims until someone I know had to take it. The preventative drug cocktail, which must be started within 72 hours of exposure and taken over 28 days, is given as emergency treatment to people who might have been exposed to the HIV virus, often victims of rape.

Thanks to the debate raging over healthcare reform, it has come out that health insurance companies deny patients health insurance because they took the medication. At least that's what happened to Christina Turner. After being drugged by two strangers, Christina had physical injuries indicating that she had probably been sexually assaulted. Her doctor prescribed her the anti-AIDS medication, but she soon found out that taking it made her uninsurable. When she lost her coverage for an unrelated reason, Christina went out to purchase a new policy. Insurance companies examined her health records and found the anti-AIDS prescription. They told her that it raised too many health questions, and that she might be able to come back for coverage in a few years if she could prove she was AIDS free. They didn't seem to care that Christina had never contracted HIV.

It horrifies me that a woman who has been a victim of sexual assault can have that tragic experience held against her by health insurance companies. And I also can't help but think of what Christina's story means for people who are actually HIV positive. If Christina was penalized for merely taking this medication, it surely must be harder to get coverage if you are already living with the disease. What is your reaction to all of this?

Heather Graham Races For Public Option - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0700

In a new commercial called "Track Meet," actress Heather Graham flashes her toned bod and a bit of cleavage to make the case that America needs a healthy public healthcare option. The spot, sponsored by MoveOn, claims that insurance companies have gotten lazy and bloated from the profits - but a little competition from a fit and lean public option should get the system back in shape. With a new poll showing that the majority of Americans want a government-run health insurance plan that will compete with private insurance, this ad might convince the rest of Americans who oppose it. Do you find it persuasive?

Front Page: The Public Wants a Public Healthcare Option

TresSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:12 -0700

A majority of Americans want a public option for health insurance according to the latest poll. - WSJ
George W. Bush will be giving talks as a motivational speaker. - Talking Points Memo
After drug traffickers shot down a police helicopter this weekend, Rio de Janeiro says it has a long way to go before it's safe enough for the 2016 Olympics. - New York Times
The Heene's episode of Wife Swap has been pulled out of the rerun rotation following the balloon-boy incident. - CNN
Iran, the US, France, and Russia have drafted a deal that should ease concerns about Iran's nuclear program. - BBC News

Front Page: Democrats to Ban Domestic Violence as Preexisting Condition

TresSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:24 -0700

Democrats in Congress have vowed to ban all health insurance companies from using domestic violence as a preexisting condition. - CNN
President Obama has told top lawmakers that there will be no troop cuts in Afghanistan. - New York Times
Congress will have to sign off on Washington DC's bid to legalize same-sex marriage. - Washington Post
The Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers in the bottom of the 12th inning last night. The one-game tiebreaker decided who will face the Yankees in the playoffs. - ABC News
Fictional character Don Draper tops a list of the world's most influential men, beating out Barack Obama, among others. - BuzzSugar

President Obama Gets Auto-Tuned

TresSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

When I came across this video from last night's Jimmy Kimmel Live, I watched it over and over again. I thought I'd share it with you guys, in case you needed a good laugh to start off your weekend! In the clip, rapper T-Pain gives President Obama's healthcare rhetoric the auto-tune treatment. If you've found the healthcare reform debate to be a little dry, this video will surely keep your attention. The good stuff happens about a minute in!

E-Health Records Raise Privacy Concerns About Sexual Health

TresSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

In February, the US government mandated that doctors and healthcare providers create an Electronic Health Record (EHR) for every American by 2014. This new system, which healthcare providers and government officials can access when authorized, promises to make health care more efficient and less expensive. But there's a growing concern that the adoption of a central, online system could compromise patient privacy.

Some people worry that private information, such as someone's sexual health history, could get in the hands of the wrong people if health information becomes too centralized. One congressman, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, was recently asked specifically if information about STDs and abortion would be included in a person's record. He said that patients would be able to opt out of including such personal information in the electronic file.

Life is always easier when you swap out a paper-intensive system for searchable, sortable electronic databases. But when it comes to health records, there are risks to consider. Would you choose not to include sensitive information about your sexual health in your official e-file?

A Mad Man & Funny People Try to Save Insurance Companies

TresSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Just when you thought it was impossible to make the country's debate about health care exciting, sexy Jon Hamm throws himself into the fray. The mad man is one of many celebrities starring in a new Funny of Die video that spoofs all the healthcare PSAs dominating the airwaves. Will Ferrell, Donald Faison, and Olivia Wilde join Jon in sarcastically asking "why is Obama trying to reform health care when insurance companies are doing just fine making billions of dollars in profit?" Check it out.