health insurance news

Milwaukee Business Journal – Wisconsin governor aims to create an exchange that meets the letter of the law but allows current marketplace to continue with little change.

The Wall Street Journal —Trailing in the polls and facing an irate electorate, Sen. Russ Feingold has begun to campaign on an issue that has swamped fellow Democratic incumbents nationwide: his vote for President Barack Obama’s health overhaul. Despite polls showing that voters remain skeptical of the law, Sen. Feingold …

Think Progress – If Democrats move to pass health care reform after tomorrow’s summit, their newfound momentum can be at least partly attributed to WellPoint’s decision to drastically increase premiums in California’s individual health insurance market. The rate increases highlighted the broken health care system and pressured lawmakers to drastically reform the individual health insurance market. The administration’s strong response also enunciated the differences in lawmakers’ approach to reform and may have pushed the President to add stronger cost control provisions into his health care blue-print.

Progressive States Network – As Congress delays moving forward on the passage of comprehensive health care reform, progressive state leaders from across the country have been demanding passage of reform as critical for families across the nation. But that doesn’t mean they are waiting; state leaders are moving forward, laying the groundwork for how national changes should be implemented, and creating the momentum for other meaningful health care reforms in their states.

The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee – An estimated 77,300 Wisconsinites lost health insurance coverage through August of this year after losing their jobs, according to a report by Families USA. The highest losses were seen in California (661,600) and Texas (396,900).

MarketWatch – Text of President Barack Obama’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at a Wisconsin town-hall meeting about health-care reform on Thursday.

The Note (ABC News) –  Those seats around the table are getting warmer. They’re not as comfortable as they looked in February. By the time dinner is served, they’re going to be downright hot. (There might be a few empty chairs by then, too.)