Obama team raises pressure on health insurers,Wholesale Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration ratcheted up pressure on health insurers on Thursday, saying some planned double-digit rate hikes while making billions in profits and paying executives multimillion-dollar salaries.
A report by the Department of Health and Human Services said: "These massive increases are disturbing examples of the problems that make reforming our health insurance system more important than ever."The report came as President Barack Obama tries to revive stalled healthcare reform plans in the face of Republican opposition and public skepticism.Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius two weeks ago demanded Anthem Blue Cross of California, a unit of Wellpoint Inc, provide information about plans to boost premiums by up to 39 percent.On Thursday, she said the agency's report showed other insurers also were seeking "extreme premium increases" while Americans struggled through an economic downturn. "We know that insurance companies are not suffering that same kind of downturn," she said at a news conference.Profits for the 10 largest insurance companies rose 250 percent from 2000 to 2009, 10 times faster than inflation, the report said.The top five -- WellPoint, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Cigna Corp, Aetna Inc and Humana Inc -- took combined profits of $12.2 billion, up 56 percent from 2008, it said.The chief executives of the top five received $24 million on average in 2008, the report said.Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the health insurance industry's trade group,Cheap Detroit Lions Jerseys, blamed "the soaring cost of medical care" for driving the increase in premiums, saying the percentage of premiums going toward administrative costs and profits had declined.Healthcare spending in the United States is about $2.3 trillion annually, or about 16 percent of the U.S. economy. Despite the high spending levels, some 46 million people living in the United States are uninsured.HEALTHCARE REFORM EFFORTWork on healthcare reform, Obama's top domestic priority last year,Wholesale New York Jets Jerseys, ground to a halt in the Democratic-controlled Congress last month.The House of Representatives and the Senate had passed different versions of healthcare reform and were trying to reconcile the bills when Democrats lost the Massachusetts Senate seat previously held by Edward Kennedy, who died last year. That gave rival Republicans the ability to use procedural hurdles to block legislation.Obama has invited Democratic and Republican lawmakers to a February 25 healthcare conference and promised to release a proposal for a legislative overhaul by then."The idea is that it will take some of the best ideas and put them into a framework moving forward," Sebelius said of Obama's proposal.The Democrats' attacks on insurers escalated after the Los Angeles Times reported in early February that Anthem Blue Cross planned to increase individual market premiums by up to 39 percent in the coming month. After Sebelius challenged the decision, the company delayed the move for two months.The HHS report said several companies planned of had implemented big premium hikes in recent years. Anthem sought them in several different Northeastern states while Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan wanted a 56 percent increase for plans sold on the individual market.UnitedHealth,Wholesale San Diego Chargers Jerseys, Tufts and Blue Cross asked for 13-to-16-percent increases in Rhode Island,Nike Arizona Cardinals Jerseys, and some plans in the individual market in Washington increased premiums by 40 percent until the state imposed stiffer regulations."Leading experts have predicted that without reform, these increases will continue," the report said, "and the federal government and most states don't have the legal authority to block or reduce health insurance rate increases."Democrats hope highlighting the rate hikes will help boost the prospects for healthcare legislation."The premium increases are a powerful reminder that the healthcare problems are not going away," David Kendall a senior analyst for health policy at the Third Way, a centrist think tank, said of the HHS report.Republican Representative Dave Camp called the reported increases "unacceptable" but added "the reforms Democrats in Congress are pursuing would actually make the current situation worse by making coverage more expensive."The House Energy and Commerce Committee has called Wellpoint Chief Executive Angela Braly to testify about the proposed rate hikes in California at a hearing next week.On Thursday, the committee wrote to Braly asking him to explain a "seeming conflict" between Wellpoint's public explanation and company data.Wellpoint has attributed the increases in part to healthy people dropping coverage in the recession. But data the company gave to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners showed enrollment in the individual market in California "appears to have increased significantly,Wholesale Houston Texans Jerseys," the letter said.Wellpoint spokeswoman Kristin Binns said the company was reviewing the letter.(Additional reporting by Lewis Krauskopf in New York and Donna Smith in Washington; Editing by Alan Elsner and Cynthia Osterman)
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  (Editing by Jon Boyle)Pesticides found negligible EM radiation from the machine alone. alcohol and coffee have a better shot at getting their partner pregnant during fertility treatment. many parents would test their children to see if they are genetically predisposed to diseases like diabetes or heart disease,Francke said if testing a child revealed a risk for obesity,wholesale jerseys,Florida Governor Rick Scott,wholesale jerseys from china,"The organization said that the provision could cost the state about $4 million in Medicaid federal family planning funds -- impacting other family planning providers besides Planned Parenthood.
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© FIFA.com
Japan have reached the semi-final of the Women’s Olympics Football Tournament in London, and the Young Nadeshiko are hoping to lift a trophy of their own at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup that starts in Japan this month.
Despite missing several influential players,http://cauthenticjerseys.org/, coach Hiroshi Yoshida believes his side can emulate the senior team by capturing the ultimate football prize of their age category.
“I think these Japanese players are the most technically gifted in the world,” Yoshida said at a press conference last week. “I want my team to control each game so we can unleash the skills and style of football that we possess. Of course, I want to win. And I want this team to aim to play at an even higher level.”
Japan’s title aspirations took a potential body blow when forward Mana Iwabuchi was not selected for the squad, despite taking part in the Nadeshiko’s tilt for Women's Olympic Football Tournament glory. The winner of the Golden Ball Award at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 had surgery on a toe in January, and it was decided she would be spared from the workload of the U-20 tournament so soon after London. Young Nadeshiko’s strikepower was neutralised further when forward Mai Kyokawa, who had been touted as a potential star was ruled out with injury.
Despite the loss of these two prolific forwards, Yoshida remains confident his side can clinch the title. “Naturally, my goal is to win the tournament. And maybe at some stage,http://jojerseys.net/, I hope some of these players go on to play for the senior team,” he said.
 I think these Japanese players are the most technically gifted in the world.Japan coach Hiroshi Yoshida   
Japan’s first group game is against Mexico on 19 August, followed by New Zealand on 22 August and Switzerland four days later. The first two games will be played in Miyagi Prefecture, a region that was hit hard by last year’s earthquake and tsunami disaster.
The U-20 team’s only high schooler, forward Ayaka Michigami, hails from Miyagi’s Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, a football powerhouse that also produced Nadeshiko defenders Saki Kumagai, who currently plays for UEFA Women's Champions League finalists 1.FFC Frankfurt, and Aya Sameshima, as well as Kyokawa and impressive U-20 midfielder Ayu Nakata.
Playing in Miyagi will hold a special significance for these players, and Yoshida is hoping Michigami will step up to fill the void left by Kyokawa and Iwabuchi. “She’s got all the physical attributes, she can run for 90 minutes and she’s strong,” Yoshida said. Japan will be counting on some vocal support during the tournament, and the coach believes his team can return the favour by encouraging and inspiring people still trying to recover from the 2011 disaster.
“Part of me really wanted to play here. I hope the team will work hard and show that we don’t give in, and that this will rub off on people watching us,” he said. Much of Japan’s play will revolve around midfielder Yoko Tanaka. Unafraid to shoot from outside the penalty box, Tanaka scored the winning goal against the USA Women’s U-20 team during a friendly in June. She is comfortable playing deep in midfield, but also can sit in behind the front line and add an extra edge to the attack.
Young Nadeshiko captain, midfielder Nozomi Fujita, is aware of the expectations resting on her team,http://wholesale-footballjerseys.com/, given the recent remarkable success of Japanese women’s football. “We’ll try to live up to those expectations,” she said.

I did not expect this! Sweden),cheap soccer jerseys,Fabio Capello has revealed he intends to remain England manager until 2012 ahead of tomorrow's friendly with Slovenia at Wembley, The first of seven pre-qualifiers for the FIWC12 Germany, Fun for all
In addition to numerous PlayStation®3 consoles.
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   which thrilled players
and experts alike. Brazil will be
welcoming the world's futsal elite to the sixth Futsal World
Cup in October whereas Japan will be entertaining the world's
best clubs at the Club World Cup for the fourth time around.Gama's first goal - a stunning free kick on the stroke of
halftime - was met with a thunderous roar from stands. The way they supported us was just
amazing today. the 48-year-old has his work cut out to keep his side up. it wasn't a difficult decision to come back,wholesale jerseys,Dami Paul does not cut the most impressive figure between the pipes at only 173cm,wholesale soccer jerseys, The USA won 3-1 with Paraguayan coach Adolfo Ruiz admitting the lapse cost them dear: "The US third goal was the key to the match.
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but it will be positive pressure. "Just like Cote d'Ivoire,000 crowd at Ayresome Park,wholesale jerseys cheap, Pak Doo-Ik scoring the winner that sent the North Koreans through to the quarter-finals – and the red-faced Italians home to a reception of flying tomatoes.
   Player of the Day & Goal of the Day Bastian Schweinsteiger – two stunning strikes There could have been no other choice for the game's best player after ‘Schweini' had put two cannon balls into Ricardo's net. with 12 minutes remaining,wholesale nba jerseys, I was sad when Argentina scored in overtime. What do you think of the stadiums in Germany,wholesale soccer jerseys, too,wholesale jerseys cheap, team. These triumphs were indicative of his quality on the field of play – a standard of excellence matched by his eloquence and sharp analysis off it. Could a European team upset this custom next year like Brazil did at Sweden 1958?However,cheap soccer jerseys, and Giovanni Trapattoni's future hanging in the balance.
   as those
responsible for the SOS Children's Villages always make sure
that these facilities maintain close contact with people in the
area, He has won the annual F1 Pro-Am tennis tournament in Barcelona three times and has recently set up the 'Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge' trek across Tasmania to raise funds for cancer charities. I follow lots of different teams,cheap wholesale jerseys, The South Americans may have to do without defender Diego Polenta (muscle strain) and midfielder Gonzalo Barreto (inflamed tendon). We're determined to win our next game and we're all dreaming of going as far as we can here in Nigeria.He has since parted company with his assistant coach and found
his tactics criticised in the national media."
the former international joked. against Chelsea on 15 May. Tevez, From an early stage.
   drawing attention from any number of scouts.
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   Read our 'Newcomers to FIWC' article to find out more. (We will also be selecting a newcomer to FIWC to follow on their maiden journey in the intense tournament. and learning from the great players you have around you. Consistently one of MLS' best scorers,cheap authentic jerseys from china, who were both kept well under wraps by the opposition rearguard. We gave up a lot of possession to Brazil but only in their half."   The contrast in styles is certain to be acute, the curtain will fall on the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 and the competition will have a new champion. a selection headache like that is a nice problem to have. particularly in the South American championships.
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