Last year, 2008, brought an unusually large amount of attention to the issues of health care and health insurance. This high level of activity speaks directly to the interest level that the public holds regarding health in this country these days. And when the public shows interest in a topic, legislators are generally swayed soon thereafter.
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.
On the state level there was much activity. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, after pushing aggressively for a comprehensive health care reform, vetoed legislation that would have provided a single payer system. It was his second veto in three years of a similar plan. Across the country in Florida, Governor Charlie Crist was able to pass a law that will provide residents with affordable coverage through a new Florida health insurance program. Meanwhile, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle axed the state's universal health insurance program for children, due to budget constraints. And in Massachusetts, due to skyrocketing costs, lawmakers were forced to raise premiums for the state-subsidized health insurance program.
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."
The health insurance industry agreed that so long as there is a universal health care mandate in place, they would not deny coverage to any person with pre-existing conditions. And lawmakers also passed a bill that will prohibit genetic information from being used to deny health insurance coverage. So 2008 did bring a host of new health care issues to the fore. And 2009 promises to bring even more, as the issue continues to grow in importance for Americans.
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.
On the state level there was much activity. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, after pushing aggressively for a comprehensive health care reform, vetoed legislation that would have provided a single payer system. It was his second veto in three years of a similar plan. Across the country in Florida, Governor Charlie Crist was able to pass a law that will provide residents with affordable coverage through a new Florida health insurance program. Meanwhile, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle axed the state's universal health insurance program for children, due to budget constraints. And in Massachusetts, due to skyrocketing costs, lawmakers were forced to raise premiums for the state-subsidized health insurance program.
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."
The health insurance industry agreed that so long as there is a universal health care mandate in place, they would not deny coverage to any person with pre-existing conditions. And lawmakers also passed a bill that will prohibit genetic information from being used to deny health insurance coverage. So 2008 did bring a host of new health care issues to the fore. And 2009 promises to bring even more, as the issue continues to grow in importance for Americans.
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With more people losing their family health insurance every month, the situation is dire. Trying to find the best Florida health insurance without a roadmap can be a daunting task. The professionals at www.GoHealthInsurance.com can guide you in the right direction.
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