0 Insurance companies discriminate against women in several ways and it's time to tell Congress to pass a health care reform bill that doesn't treat women like they are pre-existing conditions. Pregnancy should NOT be an pre-existing condition. Domestic Violence should NOT be a pre-existing condition. Women should NOT be charged more than men for health insurance. Today, Insurance Companies Charge Women 48% More Than Men For The Same Coverage On The Individual Market. * In 2008, 14.5 million American women purchased health insurance through the individual market. According to a recent study, these women pay up to 48% more in premiums than men. * This discrepancy is due to an insurance industry practice known as “gender rating,” which permits insurance companies in most states to charge men and women different premiums for the same coverage. * In all but 12 states, insurance companies are completely free to continue this practice Many Insurance Companies Don’t Provide Maternity Coverage, Calling Pregnancy A “Matter Of Choice” And C-Sections A “Pre-Existing Condition.” * A 2008 study found that just 12 percent of individual market plans include comprehensive maternity coverage. * Defending the practice, one insurance official called pregnancy a “matter of choice.” * In addition, many insurance companies consider C-Sections a “pre-existing condition,” while in Colorado, a subsidiary of United Health, one of the biggest insurance companies in the nation, “simply rejects” women who have had C-Sections. Today, Insurance Companies Are Free To Deny Coverage To Victims Of Domestic Violence. * In eight states and the District of Columbia, it is perfectly legal for insurance companies to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence – and insurance companies are happy to take advantage of this loophole. * Rationalizing this practice, one health care official infamously argued that covering a victim of domestic violence would be akin to covering “a smoker who doesn’t stop smoking.” [USA Today, 6/2/94] * In 2006, ten Senate conservatives voted to kill a proposal that would have ensured coverage to victims of domestic violence. [Sens. Alexander, Burr, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Gregg, Hatch, Isakson, Roberts and Sessions; CQ Committee Coverage, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Markup, 3/15/06] President Obama And Leaders In Congress Have Outlined Specific Reforms That Would End These And Other Abusive Insurance Industry Practices. * The reforms being advanced by the White House and Congress would: o Make “gender rating” illegal. o Prevent insurance companies from denying care on the basis of pre-existing conditions. o End “rescission,” or the insurance industry practice of canceling someone’s coverage when they get sick. o Set limits on out-of-pocket expenses. o Provide competition and choice. Insurance companies discriminate against women in several ways and it’s time to tell Congress 2009-10-13T20:57:39-05:00 1 2 2 53 884 130035 false true true Women deserve equal health care! #IAmNotACondition 0 272 1 1 1 0 2 36357 Ask @HarryReid to pass health care reform that doesn't discriminate against women! #IAmNotACondition http://act.ly/ok RT to sign #actly 2010-02-02T00:50:10-05:00 82 false ok http://act.ly/ok Reno US 2010-02-05T03:56:45-05:00 2009-06-23T17:22:37-05:00 TweetProgress and #P2 cofounder, Twitter mischief maker: Someday the authorities of our society will no doubt apprehend her for simply being herself. COD 0 43 2 2919 2510 Reno, NV 89501, USA false 5 0 2009-11-09T02:31:41-05:00 82 false 0.0 persona 0 0.0 43.9553 0.0 0 2009-10-07T08:47:43-05:00 39.5254004 0 -119.8135266 Reno, Nevada 2009-11-09T02:15:24-05:00 Reno, Nevada MyrnaTheMinx Tracy Viselli false 8F0B0B http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/17001633/1940wool.jpg false http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/480975470/profilefrowning_normal.jpg 125B7D 87bc44 e0ff92 000000 false 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 0 9 0 2010-02-14T20:34:44-05:00 0 2 0 0 40 7 NV 32694 89501 0 0 0 0 Tehran 0 10 2010-02-05T00:50:03-05:00 0 9026292 2010-02-05T03:56:45-05:00 http://www.tracyviselli.com 12600 false 89501 0 Las Vegas US 2010-02-08T22:48:56-05:00 2009-09-12T20:06:02-05:00 Official Twitter account of Harry Reid's 2010 re-election campaign. 0 0 988 0 Las Vegas, NV, USA false 4 0 2009-10-01T13:58:27-05:00 36357 false 0.0 2 0.0 2009-11-15T19:35:13-05:00 0.0 0.0 0 36.114646 0 -115.172816 Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV HarryReid Sen. Harry Reid false efe4b5 http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/19317163/reid_twitter_bground.jpg false http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/358650018/Picture_299_normal.png 467cd4 477ed1 eee5b7 333333 false 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NV 128 300 1 1 1 Pacific Time (US & Canada) 0 1 2010-01-08T02:02:34-05:00 0 49615301 2010-02-08T22:48:56-05:00 http://www.harryreid.com -28800 false