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Health Care Reform Will Help Who How?

October 12, 2009 (By Bob Farley)

– Is it a coincidence that health care ETFs (exchange traded funds) rallied on Friday? The Health Care Select Sector SPDRS ETF (NYSE: XLV) closed at their highest level in over a month, while the Vanguard Health Care ETF (NYSE: VHT) gained more than 1%. Maybe they know something that the rest of us should know?

For sure, we know that Congress has health-care reform on its platter this week, but with former lobbyists from companies like WellPoint (NYSE: WLP), one of the biggest health insurers in the country, on the panel helping write policy, it’s no wonder that the bill coming out provides that those without insurance will be forced to buy insurance from for-profit organizations. [entire post]

Tags: health, health care, health insurance, insurance
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Health Care At The Breaking Point

May 7, 2009 (By Dr. Joe Duarte)

From “Dr. Joe’s Market Diagnosis”, by Dr. Joe Duarte

Shares of Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) may get a bounce as the markets look for way to make money from the swine flu outbreak. But the breakout of a new flu scare brings home a very significant point that goes beyond making money from a potential crisis.

As the swine flu hype kicks into high gear, and President Obama has instructed the Senate Majority to pass health care reform with 51 votes by invoking a complex procedure called reconciliation which blocks filibusters, consider this: fewer physicians, worsening demographics, and decreased reimbursement are coming to a head as the White House increases his focus on health care.

After nearly two decades of managed care, the U.S. health care system is about to lurch into a new degree of uncertainty, and the White House seems to be shocked at what has been obvious to physicians and patients for a few years now. The market has reached the point at which it can no longer bear the stresses put on it. So physicians are opting to opt out. [entire post]

Tags: 'new york times', budget, congress, deficit(s), education, filibuster, health care, insurance, legislation, lobbying, managed care, massachusetts, medicaid, medicare, medicare payment advisory commission, miami, national health service corps, obama, policy, primary care, reconciliation, senate, swine flu, texas, universal, white house
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Tax Increases Start, 90 Days Into Presidency

April 30, 2009 (By Bud Burrell)

From “Front & Center”, by Bud Burrell

Today, the News Services announced that the Obama Administration and Congress will do away with the Middle Class Tax Cuts enacted under the Bush Administration. This comes on top an already announced decision to let the upper class tax cuts expire next year. Wow, that’s impressive, only 90 days to break the biggest recurring promise of his campaign.

The meager $400 Middle Class Tax Cut had already been eaten up with increased medical plan co-pay increases, along with increases in Social Security contributions. With only about 55% of Americans paying income tax, it means all tax payers paying over the standard social security contribution levels will be looking at tax increases next year.

The spectacular increase faced by all US citizens, tax payers or not, is the probable tax to be implemented for Cap and Trade, which will impose a 45% tax on all carbon based energy consumed by individuals, corporations, manufacturers, large buildings, and power plants. The minimum total tax increase on Utility bills alone will exceed 50% of current bills. This is money millions of Americans will not have to spend. [entire post]

Tags: (the) treasury, admistration, banks, cap & trade, co-pay, congress, energy, fund, government(s), gun control, health care, insurance, job(s), medical, middle class, obama, pension, retirement, single-pay, social security, socialism, tarp, tax(es), universal, utlilities
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