What We're Reading: Politicians Trade Blame; A New Healthy Places List; Healthcare Affordability Worries

Democrats, Republicans Trade Blame After Insurance Stabilization Package Fails

Aetna Foundation, US News & World Report Create New List of Healthiest Places

Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at each other in the wake of a failure to include a stabilization package for the health insurance industry in the $1.3 billion omnibus bill passed last week, with premiums expected to rise right before the fall midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported. Negotiations fell apart over abortion language insisted upon by the GOP and rejected by Democrats.The Aetna Foundation and US News & World Report have released their first list of the healthiest places, with Falls Church, Virginia, taking the top spot. The project scores nearly 3000 communities across 80 metrics that extend beyond health coverage and doctors' visits to social determinants of health, such as income, housing, and public safety. Falls Church is among the wealthiest and most highly educated cities in the United States.

Gallup Finds 55% Worry About Cost, Affordability of Healthcare

Fifty-five percent of those polled told Gallup they worry "a great deal" about the cost and availability of healthcare in the United States, while 23% said they worry about the issue "a fair amount." It is the fifth year in a row, and 13th overall, that healthcare has either been first or tied for first among 15 issues.