Even those with insurance face high deductibles, reduced coverage, and escalating medical costs.

Maine officials wanted a new approach, one in which a representative group of people could learn about the issues, discuss options, and express their opinions.

The legislation included an integrated set of strategies:  a new insurance program targeted to small businesses, sole proprietors, and un- or underinsured individuals.

As the legislative session closed and the smoke began to clear, it was clear that DirigoChoice would continue, despite defeat of a legislative proposal to allow the state to be self-insured and administer DirigoChoice rather than fully insured through a private insurance company.

As the November elections approach, the issue of health care is front and center, with different candidates taking different positions.

Thirty-eight percent of Mainers with insurance pay more than five percent of their income on insurance premiums, and the median deductible...

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Access and insurance are two of the most important issues in regard to reforming health care in the United States, or at least that was the consensus of those who attended a health care forum at Scott & White.Quality and cost of that health care were ranked third and fourth in importance.About 90 people were at Scott & White Memorial Hospital on Tuesday to participate in an Obama-Biden Transition Project Health Care Community Discussion.Dr.

James Rohack, director of the Scott & White Center for Healthcare Policy, was the moderator.The new administration is holding these meetings to find out what concerns the general public has about health care, Rohack said.The group worked its way through eight questions, detailing what they thought would be required to have meaningful health care reform.Bill Jones III, Temple mayor and business owner, said he thought one of the biggest problems in the health care system is the disconnect between the cost of health care and the people...

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