BALCONY Issues in the News

UnitedHealth to Insure the Right to Insurance

by Reed Abelson

For these economically uncertain times, the UnitedHealth Group has a “first of its kind” product: the right to buy an individual health policy at some point in the future even if you become sick.

Called UnitedHealth Continuity, the product is not actual medical insurance, but is aimed at people who may have insurance now but are worried they may lose it — and may not be able to obtain replacement insurance on their own. They may expect to retire early, for example, before they qualify for Medicare. Or they are worried about the possibility of losing their job and their health coverage.

People who are already sick will generally not be eligible for the new product. Those who do pass a medical review, will pay 20 percent each month of the current premium on an individual policy to reserve the right to be insured under the plan at some point in the future.

M.T.A. Warns of Service Cuts and Fare Increases

By William Neuman

Deep cuts in subway, bus and commuter rail service could come as early as spring, followed by a double-digit rise in fares and tolls in June, transportation officials said on Thursday as they revealed a gloom-and-doom budget that came with a “cry for help” to elected officials to bail the authority out of its financial crisis.

But elected officials said they had no money to give and would wait to hear the proposals of a state commission that was seeking new revenue, which may include tolls on East River bridges and higher taxes, for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

THOMPSON PLAN: REGIONAL WEIGHT-BASED FEES ON PRIVATE, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO GENERATE TRANSIT REVENUE

-Thompson also endorses resurrection of commuter tax for a combined potential revenue of more than $1.8 billion annually-

In a move designed to meet New York City’s pressing transit fiscal needs, New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today unveiled a plan to impose a weight-based registration fee on private and commercial vehicles.

Tackling NYS’ growing budget deficit a grim task

By James T. Madore

Gov. David A. Paterson is warning that next year’s budget will be “grim,” with retrenchment virtually everywhere, from schools and hospitals to building projects and social welfare agencies.

The cuts will probably be deeper because of last week’s failure by Paterson and lawmakers to close a $2-billion hole in the 2008-09 spending plan. That red ink now must be rolled into the projected $12.5-billion deficit for 2009-10, precipitating reductions in spending rather than slowing its growth.

Recovery means a hand from D.C.

By Malcolm A. Smith

Gov. David Paterson’s proposals for significant cuts to the state budget are a prudent acknowledgment that our nation’s economic problems and the continuing crisis on Wall Street will force big changes in the way we do business in Albany.

We’re going to have to slash state spending. We’re going to have to find unprecedented new efficiencies in government administration.

And we won’t be able to avoid cuts to some programs that provide valuable services. There’s simply not enough money available to pay for everything state government has funded in recent years.

But most of all, we’ll need bigger and stronger state-federal partnerships than ever.