New HHS Report Highlights Need for Health Insurance
Reform for Older Women
Chronic conditions drive health care spending in the
U.S. for all ages but highest among senior women
Sept. 8, 2009 Last week, Health and Human
Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a report on the importance
of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women
(ages 65 and older). One of the most striking points in the report is
the cost of caring for Americans with chronic conditions, which are most
often women, because they live longer.
Our mothers and grandmothers have unique health
needs and under the status quo, they arent getting the quality,
affordable care they deserve, said Sebelius.
Health insurance reform will strengthen health
care for older women and senior women in Maine and across the country.
A Chronic condition includes chronic illnesses and
impairments. It includes conditions that are expected to last a year or
longer, limit what one can do, and/or may require ongoing medical care.
● 98% of Medicare spending is for beneficiaries
with one or more chronic conditions.
● 83% of Medicaid spending is by
non-institutionalized beneficiaries with one or more chronic conditions.
● 77% of private health insurance spending is
attributed to people who have one or more chronic conditions.
● 76% of all spending by the uninsured is by
people with one or more chronic conditions.
The report also identifies problems with the status
quo for older women and senior women and proposed solutions in health
insurance reform including:
● Senior women spent on average 17 percent of
their income on health care in 2005.
The growth in Medicare Part B premiums from 2000 to
2018 is predicted to cost seniors an additional $1,577 per year
out-of-pocket.
Lawmakers face balancing act - limit insurers to a small difference in premiums between older and younger people and younger ones likely
to pay far more than now; allow larger spread, and boomers may be priced
out of coverage. Seniors on Medicare not affected.
Health insurance reform, the report says, will reduce
overpayments to private plans and clamp down on fraud and abuse to lower
premiums for all seniors and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund
by 5 years.
● One in five women aged 50 and above has not
received a mammogram in the past two years.
By ensuring that health plans cover preventive
services for everyone, investing in prevention and wellness, and
promoting primary care, health insurance reform will work to create a
system that prevents illness and disease instead of just treating it
when its too late and costs more, according to the report..
Sec. Kathleen Sebelius released the report while on
a visit to Maine. In Maine, Sebelius she participated in a roundtable
discussion in South Portland sponsored by AARP and the Maine Womens
Lobby.
Later, she heard from Mainers who are struggling
under the status quo. The session was at the University of Maine, Orono,
at a discussion sponsored by Maine Change that Works.
The report, Strengthening the Health Insurance
System: How Health Insurance Reform Will Help Americas Older and Senior
Women, is available at
www.HealthReform.gov. It contains many charts and graphs that help
communicate the information.
Democrats have a senior citizen problem, reports
Politico; also fighting full-blown myths -
attacks claiming reform would create government 'death panels'
authorizing euthanasia
Chronic conditions drive health care spending in the
U.S. for all ages but highest among senior women
Our mothers and grandmothers have unique health
needs and under the status quo, they arent getting the quality,
affordable care they deserve, said Sebelius. 
● 77% of private health insurance spending is
attributed to people who have one or more chronic conditions.