Health Care Reform Bills Could Reverse Insurance Discrimination Against Women

Interview with Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority and past president of NOW, conducted by Scott Harris

The drive for health care reform cleared another hurdle on Oct. 13th, when the Senate Finance Committee voted 14 to 9 to pass a reform proposal shaped by committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine was the only Republican to vote for the bill. Of the five committees in the House and Senate that have passed health care reform legislation, the Baucus bill is the only measure that does not include a government health insurance option to compete with private, for-profit insurance companies. Many health care reform activists have criticized the Baucus bill as a gift to the insurance industry, with little in it to control the rise in premiums.

Most bills being considered prevent insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions, and require nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance, while offering federal subsidies to lower income citizens and small businesses assistance to pay for coverage. But despite recent opinion polls finding that a strong majority of Americans support a public option, whether or not to include the provision remains the primary focus of debate.

The next step in the process will see the House and Senate each merge the various committee reform proposals into one bill, followed by a vote. Then both chambers must hammer out the differences between the two bills, clearing the way for a full Congressional vote. Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority and past president of the National Organization for Women. She assesses the status of the heath care reform debate and the discriminatory practices women face in obtaining affordable health insurance coverage under the current system.

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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