The White House Using iVillage to Communicate to the Masses

THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE WOMEN OF iVILLAGE
ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE

Women Concerned About Cost & Quality of Care and Medication, Pre-existing Conditions, and Health Issues Specifically Affecting Women

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius responds to questions from the iVillage community about health care reform in a video produced by the Administration, which breaks exclusively on iVillage.com (www.ivillage.com/michelleobama). First Lady Michelle Obama began the health care reform conversation in a video message that first broke on iVillage last week.

The community’s questions centered around common themes, including the cost of care; insurance; pre-existing conditions; women’s health issues, such as infertility and breast cancer; quality of care and the high cost of drugs.

“Health care is clearly top-of-mind for the women of iVillage, and that was reflected in the outpouring of thoughtful, substantive questions from them,” said Jodi Kahn, Executive Vice President, iVillage.  “We’re so glad to provide this incredible opportunity for the iVillage community to engage with the White House on such an important issue that dramatically impacts women and their families.”

Here are some highlights from Secretary Sebelius’ video response.

On pre-existing conditions: “One of the new features of new insurance marketplace is….insurance companies will no longer be able to eliminate folks based on a pre-existing condition; there will be a limit for how much they can charge for out-of-pocket costs.”

On women’s health issues like maternity leave: “Too many policies have no maternity coverage at all,” replies Sebelius. “That has to change.”