Spokesman, America's Health Insurance Plans
Spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, which lobbies in Washington on behalf of the health insurance industry
PROFILE
Robert Zirkelbach
Guest
FROM Robert Zirkelbach
To the Point
Should Obama Order a Freeze on Insurance Rates? In writing healthcare reform , Congress required that Americans buy health insurance by 2014, but declined to empower the government to set a fair price. One consumer calls it “a potential disaster that the president cannot afford to ignore .” Recently, health insurance companies have begun notifying policyholders of premium increases, pointing the finger at federal healthcare reform. We get two perspectives from Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog in California, and Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans .
Which Way, L.A.?
The Pitch Is History, Did He Make the Sale? After a month on the sidelines, President Obama attempted to re-frame the debate on healthcare reform with a major address last night to a joint session of Congress.
To the Point
The Pitch Is History, Did He Make the Sale? President Obama told last night's joint session of Congress, the bickering and game playing should be over. " Now is the time to deliver on healthcare ." This morning, Republicans apologized for some heckling, but bipartisanship is still a distant dream, and Democrats remain divided. Was there enough detail to resolve fears and confusion from last month's town halls? What about the "public option" and paying for the cost? Vice President Biden predicts a bill will pass by Thanksgiving. We look at the prospects.
Which Way, L.A.?
Is This Finally the Moment for Healthcare Reform? While he was still in Europe, President Obama spoke to his Saturday radio audience about healthcare reform . The President wants reform enacted before Congress goes home in August, but devilish details are not yet resolved. Insurance companies are all in favor of mandatory coverage, but an optional public plan could drive them away from the table. Some consumer groups won’t support anything but a single-payer plan. We look at policy options, politics and efforts at cost control.
To the Point
Is This Finally the Moment for Healthcare Reform? President Obama says healthcare costs are the biggest obstacle to economic recovery, and a powerful coalition of interest groups has been assembled. The President wants reform enacted before Congress goes home in August, but devilish details are not yet resolved. Insurance companies are all in favor of mandatory coverage, but an optional public plan could drive them away from the table. Some consumer groups won't support anything but a single-payer plan. We look at policy options, politics and efforts at cost control.
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Left, Right & Center
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.