Dina Titus works to sell health care plan back home

By J. Patrick Coolican

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 | 11:30 a.m.

Rep. Dina Titus, the Henderson Democrat, began the work of selling health care reform this morning with a press conference to highlight the benefits of the bill for women.

Gail Allen of the Breast Cancer Coalition of Nevada and Cindy Boucher, a woman who cares for her disabled husband, appeared with Titus and said the recently passed legislation is an important first step toward a more equitable and humane health care policy.

Women face health care challenges for several reasons: They pay higher premium costs due to "gender rating" -- insurers charge them more because they eventually consume more health care; they are more likely to be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions; and, they are more likely to work at small businesses that cannot afford coverage.

The legislation, phased in during the next several years, will prevent insurers from dropping sick people from their rolls or denying coverage due to pre-existing coverage; will greatly expand Medicaid, the public health insurance program for poor people and the working class; and, will create a new health insurance market for individuals and small businesses and then give subsidies so they can afford coverage.

On the flip side, obtaining health insurance will become mandatory, and taxes on the best plans and the richest Americans will increase.

Boucher said she pays nearly $1,000 a month for health insurance. She's tried shopping for a new plan, but has been denied because her body-mass index is too low, meaning she's too skinny; "menopausal symptoms" and "spider veins."

Dr. Joe Heck, a former state senator and Titus' likely Republican opponent this fall, released a statement when the bill passed last week: "Dina Titus turned her back on Nevada today by voting for an incredibly unpopular, expensive, tax-raising piece of legislation that will increase government intrusion and control of individuals’ healthcare decisions. What's more, she continues to support Nancy Pelosi and her backroom deals to push through this flawed legislation. Nevada residents expect and deserve better."