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04/08/2006
Your cervix and the next recipients of the Super Bowl trophy will thank you
The U.S. Senate is currently considering S.1955, a measure that opponents are calling the "Lose Your Benefits" bill. Formally and doublespeakfully titled the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, this bill would allow insurance companies to flat-out ignore nearly all state laws that require coverage for certain conditions or treatments — you know, those little extras like cervical cancer screening, bone marrow transplants, alcoholism and drug abuse treatment, mental health services, breast reconstruction, minimum maternity stay, provision of diabetic supplies, inclusion of domestic partners in policy coverage, direct access to your OB-GYN, continuity of care during pregnancy, mammography, contraceptives, infertility diagnosis and treatment...
Now, this is the part where you're supposed to be hearing a needle dragging abruptly across a record, if you are old enough to remember records. If you are not old enough to remember records, you are too young to be reading my blog, because I am about to filth it up good.
I'm sure the distinguished dingus who sponsored this bill, Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming, is a perfectly nice man — he does, after all, like ice cream, fishing, and Wyoming's largest illegal grow op tomatoes — but his record on issues that matter to me is abysmal. If you ask me, it sounds like Sen. Enzi (R., duh), deserves the colorectal screening of his
ever-loving life. As I am not a medical professional, I am unfamiliar
with the instruments normally used in such a procedure, but, heck, I'm
resourceful and could probably figure something out.
If Enzi's bill is passed into law, people in every state could lose health care benefits (PDF) that insurers are currently required by law to offer. Whether you're fortunate enough to have state-mandated infertility coverage, or buying oral contraceptives for the cost of a reasonable co-pay, or contemplating a hospital stay to give birth, or, heck, just walking around, minding your own business, while your cervix quietly does its thing, take note.
And please take action. Contact your senator and urge him or her to oppose S.1955.
Many thanks to art-sweet for the heads up and for a boilerplate letter you can copy and send.
Comments (77)
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Thanks for the link and the letter (thanks art-sweet!) My state's senator has heard from me tonight.
Letters sent.
My third one this week to Santorum and Spector - the others were about animal tracking databases and food uniformity. I fear the boys are going to get mighty tired of me now that I've moved back to the Keystone State.
Thank you so much for letting us know. I just sent a letter to both Clinton and Schumer. Pretty sure Clinton will be against this anyway, but it doesn't hurt to chime in. She could probably use the ammunition against the Republicans.
Long-time lurker delurking to say: Done. Not that these lazy ass, good ol' boy S.C. Senators actually bother to vote half the time, but....
Hi, by the way. Love the site.
Thanks so much for making this so easy! I wrote to both of my GOP senators (ick!) on behalf of both my husband and myself. I really appreciate the links to the boilerplate letter and the contact you senator page.
Love the blog and hello from Ohio!
Catherine
Done. I'd also like to think Schumer and Clinton would be against this anyway, but it never hurts to keep prodding them, regularly. (Dear Chuck and Hillary: I poke because I love.) And we need to keep letting our elected officials know what's important to us.
Thanks for all you do to keep us informed! I emailed Feinstein and Boxer- although I'm pretty sure they would already vote against it...here's hoping they can influence some of the others.
I'm a long time reader posting for the first time saying that I emailed both Senator Gordon and Wyden and also requested them to write back with their opinions. When I recieve the replies I will post them. Thanks for keeping us informed. And keep up the awesome work!
Just coming out of the woodwork to let you know both Senator Dayton and Senator Coleman got quick letters this evening.
Thank you for the information.
Um, anyone else see anything significant with the fact that it is "S. 1955" that is proposing to take us back to, um, I don't know circa 1955?
I'm colossally pissed off too, that Enzi has a press release out saying that small businesses overwhelmingly approve of the bill - based on a survey of realtors. Yep. Realtors. Because that is an unskewed demographic, right? Totally representative of a cross-section of America's small business owners. Not.
Read the spin that has been spun
here.
Thanks Julie.
Done. Although thanks for reminding me that I live in a state with two republican senators. I try not to think about that.
(Ad and related comments deleted.)
Julie -
Thanks for keeping us aware of new fights to be fought.
Done.
Thanks for posting this, & making letter-writing so easy (for irate but frazzled constituents like myself). My Jersey senators have just heard from me.
Because they're only all about state's rights when they have control of the states.
Oy vey.
And I thought I was lucky to live in Mass, where many of us have state-mandated infertility coverage. Or so we think........
Sent a "nice little note" to my two Senators- Kerry and Kennedy. Hmm, well at least they have a decent track-record on this type of issue.
What is 'direct access to OB'GYN'? Maybe I'm just a dork, or naive, but could someone explain it to me please?
I read the spin (thanks Boulder). I think all the quotes in the document spoke to the 'allowing small businesses to pool together' part, not the 'relieving regualtory burdens' part...maybe because even their supporters know that part is insane.
JDEgirl, that's being able to go directly to your OB-GYN when you have a problem [whispers] down there, instead of getting a referral from your primary care doctor every time (and thereby presumably doubling up on co-payments).
TN senators have been contacted. Thank you for passing along the perfect tool. They are both Republicans, but should not ignore the healthcare crisis we already face in the state of TN.
Here I am reporting to duty. NYS senators C&S were duly informed.
Side remark: Having worked for many years as a coordinator to zillions of grass root campaigns, I have to point out that at times such spontaneous efforts DO backfire in ways that defy logic. Congressional aides get inundated with letters, e-mails, phone calls and more than often the issue at stake is being labeled as "hot-but-impermanent" and accordingly re-legated to the bottom drawer. The flawed rationale behind may be translated into Latin as Sic Tempora Gloriae . Once there is a sudden outbreak of correspondence, which is not properly channeled, these almighty aides tend to wait and wait for the storm to subside.
The above remark needs not be interpreted as a sign of disbelief. It is merely a warning one.
My senators heard from me this morning. Thanks for the links.
After reviewing the Senator's voting record. I must respectfully disagree with you: I don't think he's a very nice man.
Sadly, as I'm currently living in the UK, I don't think a letter from an overseas american will be taken very seriously. But I may send one anyways.
Done and done. Thanks once again for the legislative alert!
E-mailed Isakson and Chambliss. Who knows what will happen, though I sadly suspect that they're probably all for it. I like Georgia most of the time, but for the politicians.
Done, thanks!
Martinez and Nelson have been e-mailed. Nelson's pretty reasonable about this sort of thing, and hopefully the letter to Martinez doesn't fall on deaf ears.
Good luck with this one - I am in Australia so am not directly affected - except in the sense that the right of all people everywhere to medical care is being eroded before our eyes.
The large healthcare and pharmaceutical companies are presuring our government to go the way that the US seems to have gone, with only the relatively wealthy having full access to healthcare choices, and it is very frightening.
Recently there was a proposal in parliament to limit to three the number of IVF cycles for women over 40. I am relieved to say that even the scary ultra-conservative female politicians said "NO WAY".
Even if it is possible for our protests to be pushed aside somewhere along the way, we should still always raise our voices. That whole thing about evil triumphing when good people stay silent is true and having no access to healthcare is an evil that already affects too many people in a world that should be able to provide for all.
I am getting off my soap box now.
I work for a health insurance company, and while I have no real stand on this issue either way. I thought I would inform you that most companies that offer group health insurance to their employees are currently self-funded and do not have to abide by state law anyway. There are maybe 2% of the companies that we cover that fund their coverage through the health insurance company. It might be something for you and everyone else to find out. If you think that you have access and protection by these state laws, take note that you really might not.
Done - to both of the senators of that great state of Iowa. Yeah, the Hawkeye state.
Goodness. Everytime I turn around these F-R's are trying to screw with my healthcare. For some reason though, I imagine that Viagra and Penile implants though would still be covered.
Thanks for the info. I just emailed Boxer in CA.
i live in texas, where our senior senator, the republican bitch, and the junior senator, the republican asshole, will be happy to vote for this shit. i live in a state where compulsory free publich education is seen as a communist plot (not shit! said on the floor of the state legislature, the same state legislature that brought you tom delay's gerrymander).
in texas, if you're poor and you get sick, you die. that's all. you just die.
and hutchison and cornyn are happy to leave it that way.
Just to make yez feel even better, the bill apparently removes all potential lawsuits over such health plans to federal court, where it has generally been harder for injured individuals to prevail. (The bill also promises an award of attorney's fees to any insurance company that successfully sues a state for infringing on its right to offer inadequate coverage at high rates.)
Thanks for the info (and the letter, which I linked to from my wee tiny blog...I hope you don't mind...I couldn't have said it any better.)
Scary scary scary stuff.
How many of you think Viagra would still be covered while affordable mammograms would be dumped like a hot potato?
I wrote my senators, and here is the response I got from Sen. Mikulski:
"Dear Ms. ******:
Thank you for getting in touch with me. It's good to hear from you.
I share your concerns about the Small Business Health Fairness Act (S. 406). This legislation would establish Association Health Plans (AHPs) that are exempt from state regulation. Like you, I am worried that this legislation could make health care coverage more expensive and less accessible for some small employers and their employees.
I am also concerned that federal AHP legislation would undermine successful reforms in Maryland. These reforms have made health insurance more accessible and provide important consumer protections for small business employees, such as not being denied coverage due to a medical condition and not having coverage cancelled because you are sick. I will not support legislation to undo these important reforms.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which I am a member, recently held a hearing on S. 406. Knowing your opposition to S. 406 will be very helpful to me should the HELP Committee consider this legislation further.
Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator"
Shes on the committee! Who knew?
Thanks for the info (and the letter, which I linked to from my wee tiny blog...I hope you don't mind...I couldn't have said it any better.)
Scary scary scary stuff.
I just received a response from Boxer, and surprisingly, her response sounds as though she is in favor of the bill. Here's an excerpt from her response:
"Be assured, I am committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care. I appreciate hearing your opposition to S. 1955 and the effect the bill could have on the coverage of various
health services, such as podiatry and mental healthcare. As you know, the bill would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974 to establish small business health plans, which are
group health plans sponsored by trade and business associations. In addition, the bill requires the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor to set forth requirements with regards to regulation of
insurance plans and harmonization of state health insurance laws.
On March 15, 2006, S. 1955, which was introduced by Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions.
Should the full Senate take up and consider this legislation, I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind."
I just find it interesting that the response picks up on "podiatry" as being the best example of the kinds of services we (as women) are concerned about! (I used the form letter provided.)
Thank you for the heads up Julie. I'll be writing to Hutchinson and Cornyn in just a minute. Although as RaibowW said above, I am sure those two asshats are all for it.
I've sent the letter to Senators Kerry & Kennedy (D. MA) although given their records I'm sure they would oppose. But that said, I would like to use Jenny's apropos term ASSHAT and say - I bet none of the ASSHATs in favor of this bill have had to deal with fertility treatments or if they have, have simply sent wifey off with a AMEX and a smile. Yet another good reason to pack it in and move to Canada. If only prostate cancer was considered as non-important as anything related to the cervix.
Also, keep an eye out for our esteemed soon-to-be ex-governor Mr. Mitt Romney, he has his heart set on the White House and he recently tried to pass a bill that would exclude fertility treatments from mandated insurance coverage. Thankfully he was shut down. Must be nice to be a billionaire with a super fertile wife. Asshat.
Hello from Oregon! I've just dashed off a letter crackling with spite. I am a cervical cancer survivor which was only detected by a pap smear using Thin Prep cytology; a newer, more sensitive diagnostic tool than the old-school wet mount slides. The horror? Insurance companies don't have to cover Thin Prep and doctor's offices are not required to update to this new, better technology. I am a woman who always got regular pap smears; I hate to see what could happen to other women if cervical cancer screenings were even more difficult to get! Ladies, make sure your doctors use Thin Prep!
Okay, off my soapbox now. By the way, I love your blog. : )
Sorry. I meant to say that I'm a cervical cancer survivor whose CONDITION was only detected with Thin Prep. I get all riled up and my sentence diagramming skills go right out the window.
Just wanted to let you know that my Congressman (the very charismatic Sen. Barack Obama) actually responded to my email to let me know that he agrees with my opposition to this proposed bill. He also assured me that he would oppose it should it come up for vote.
Anyone else get a response from their Congressperson?
Nothing from my senators yet...
Just wanted to comment to the posters that just because you'd like to think your senator agrees with you doesn't mean they do. Keep in mind they are politicians, after all. Thus, we must write.
Loving this self-summary from Enzi's site:
"combined with relieving regulatory burdens," because, you know, there's nothing more burdensome than following laws enacted by a representative legislative body. Oh, the pain!
And speaking of pain, both my senators are Repubs, and one makes Hutchison look like an intellectual powerhouse, but maybe I can trick him into voting the right way.
Good idea, Slim. I recommend the dastardly and ingenious "Rabbit season!"/"Duck season!" gambit.
Works every time.
Lola -- I too heard from Obabma about his opposition, but haven't heard from Durbin yet. Did you write to him also?
Jenny -- Sen. Mikulski replied in regards to the Small Business Health Fairness Act (S. 406). The current bill we are discussing is the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S. 1955 if I'm not mistaken.
I think I would write again and point this out to Sen. Mikulski...
Anyway, here is the letter from Obabma:
Dear Mary:
Thank you for sharing with me your views on the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S. 1955. I appreciate hearing from you and share your opposition to this bill.
The rising cost of health in this country is a serious problem that deserves priority attention from Federal policymakers. However, I do not believe Association Health Plans (AHPs) are the way to attack this problem. This bill proposes that AHPs be regulated at the federal level, which would give AHPs the authority to circumvent state laws. They would have the ability to build insurance programs that are unattractive to older and more vulnerable populations, resulting in a drastically segmented market. This would lead to increased instability and higher premiums. A study released by Mercer Risk, Finance and Insurance Consulting in June 2003 indicated that under such proposals, an additional 1 million people would be left uninsured and premiums would rise 23%. The AHP bill does have a provision "that would allow insurers to sidestep state laws to design their benefit options only if they also sell a plan that matches a benefit plan offered to state employees of one of the five most populous states — California, Texas, New York, Florida or Illinois," according to one press report. However, I am not satisfied that this provision adequately preserves each state's ability to protect its citizens.
While I do not support S.1955, please be certain that I understand the need for more affordable health care benefits and am working with my colleagues to address this challenge.
Again, thank you for writing to me on this important issue. Please stay in touch in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. I have emailed my two evil NC Republican senators - I used to just question why I lived in this state, but I am starting to question why I live in this country.
Healthcare is totally out of hand and they obviously are hellbent on making it worse. My employer just shafted me with a new policy that has a $6000 deductible that applies to everything but well-visits (yep I mean everything, including prescriptions.) Thank god I had my son on our previous insurance which only had a $3000 deductible and don't get me started on the infertility treatments we paid for out of pocket prior to that!
Someday, things have to get better, right?