Verta Wells harnessed her upbeat personality and work ethic to battle poverty, alcohol and single parenthood.

Wells, a waitress at Steak n Shake, also was working as a receptionist at JC » More: Health insurance might have saved woman’s life

When was the last time your employer gave you a raise because the company had a little windfall? Don’t feel bad if your memory is drawing blanks. » More: Health insurance tax = higher wages?

Why would people who live in inner-ring suburbs such as Berwyn, Evanston, Oak Lawn and Oak Park be able to obtain health-care insurance quotes that are 14.6 percent, on average, lower than their Chicago neighbors? » More: Health-care insurance cheaper in the suburbs

Among some libertarians and conservatives, the most troubling aspect of the pending health care reform bills is the prospect of a federal requirement that Americans buy insurance. » More: Health insurance mandate may test limits of federal power

Federal lawmakers have squandered much of the autumn debating how best to provide private health insurance to approximately fifty million uninsured Americans. Guaranteeing healthcare for these individuals is certainly a » More: Health “Insurance”: A Criminal Enterprise

Nine Democratic senators from across the party’s ideological spectrum are pushing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to make the government-run health insurance option available to workers with » More: Nine Senate Democrats press Reid to expand public health insurance choice

Top House Democrats have upped the ante over President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform with a new sweeping legislation that includes a highly controversial public health insurance option. » More: Democrats push public health insurance option in new bill

A new law will go into effect in January 2010 that requires all young adults up to age 27 to receive coverage from their parents’ health insurance policy, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Thursday. » More: New law requires health insurance for young adults

In a rare and welcome sign that the WaPo editorial board is responsive to readers, Fred Hiatt’s outfit published the following editorial last Saturday » More: The War, Health Insurance, And The Budget

The Senate Finance Committee proposes to substantially raise taxes on middle- and low-income taxpayers through a misguided excise tax on insurance plans in order to pay for a portion of its healthcare bill. » More: Baucus Health Insurance Excise Tax Misses the Mark