President Obama's Healthcare Reform: The Pros and Cons
There has been much debate about President Obama's controversial proposal to reform the health care system in the United States. There are a few simple facts that are important: firstly, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer some type of Universal Health Care; secondly, each year thousands of Americans lose their health care coverage due to circumstances beyond their control; and thirdly, the main reason that Americans file bankruptcy is due to outstanding medical expenses. No one will dispute that reform is desperately needed.
The most talked about proposal is the Public Insurance option that President Obama is presenting.
Pro 1: Insurance for Everyone
The Public Health Care option is there to help each and every person in the country get insurance that they can afford and that will cover expenses. President Obama stated that this is simply an option. If you currently have insurance that you are satisfied with you can keep it without penalty. If your employer currently offers insurance they will not be penalized.
Pro 2: Pre-existing Conditions to be Covered
Often medical coverage gets changed through an employer, or a company downsizes and an employee is left without insurance. The employee/individual has to go about finding coverage on their own. In most cases if this person has already been diagnosed with a condition, such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, the new insurance has grounds to refuse coverage to that person, or offer them insurance that does not cover any treatment related to pre-existing conditions.
Pro 3: Lower Prescription Costs
One of the highest costs in health care is medications. Even with insurance the co pays on medications can set patients back quite a bit, especially middle to lower income families and the elderly. The cost of medication often forces them to make the choice between buying groceries and getting their prescriptions.
Pro 4: Equal Coverage for All
With everyone having insurance the cost of health care for everyone will decrease. An insured person will no longer carry the burden of higher costs to cover the uninsured. Treatment options that are necessary will be available to everyone that needs them instead of to only those that can afford them or whose insurance will cover them.
Pro 5: No financial Burden on Our Children
In President Obama's speech on September 9, 2009 he stated that while the cost of the health care reform was $900 billion, it would be covered by money that was already in the budget that was being misused. He stated that the bill would not add one dime to the current deficit, it would actually decrease it by 1/10 of 1% each year.
Pro 6: Care for the Elderly
Obama's health care reform policy insures that Medicare is a treasure that must and will be protected for generations to come. He proposes to decrease wasteful spending in Medicare by tackling false claims and other Medicare abuses.
Pro 7: Medical Malpractice Reform
President Obama's plan includes a reform of the medical malpractice act. The reform will make fraudulent lawsuits stop, and they will help allow doctors to practice responsible medicine to make sure that patients are getting the care they need, and not care that protects the doctor.
As with everything in life, there are also cons to the Health Care proposal that is currently being presented.
Con 1: The cost
Many worry about the actual cost of the reform. It has been stated that the reform will cost $900 billion, and the President states that will be covered by money that is already in the budget that is being used wastefully. However there have not been any clear cut explanations of what wasteful spending is, and where it will be coming from.
Con 2: Possibility of Health Care Providers Increasing Coverage Rates
In an effort to still make the same income, health care providers may increase their fees. Without a policy that defines how health care providers can charge, the patient may still have to pay more in the end. Just as today a cash paying patient will pay a different amount than a patient with insurance, and each insurance company has negotiated rates with the providers already.
Con 3: Providers May Refuse to Accept Public Insurance
This issue has not even been covered in any information that is currently available. Not all health care providers accept all insurance carriers. Will providers be able to refuse Public Insurance?
These are just a few of the pros and cons of the current Health Care Reform proposal as we know it. As more information is released the positives and negatives will probably change. The bottom line remains that the United States needs health care reform.
Photo Credit: egadapparel
The most talked about proposal is the Public Insurance option that President Obama is presenting.
Pro 1: Insurance for Everyone
The Public Health Care option is there to help each and every person in the country get insurance that they can afford and that will cover expenses. President Obama stated that this is simply an option. If you currently have insurance that you are satisfied with you can keep it without penalty. If your employer currently offers insurance they will not be penalized.
Pro 2: Pre-existing Conditions to be Covered
Often medical coverage gets changed through an employer, or a company downsizes and an employee is left without insurance. The employee/individual has to go about finding coverage on their own. In most cases if this person has already been diagnosed with a condition, such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, the new insurance has grounds to refuse coverage to that person, or offer them insurance that does not cover any treatment related to pre-existing conditions.
Pro 3: Lower Prescription Costs
One of the highest costs in health care is medications. Even with insurance the co pays on medications can set patients back quite a bit, especially middle to lower income families and the elderly. The cost of medication often forces them to make the choice between buying groceries and getting their prescriptions.
Pro 4: Equal Coverage for All
With everyone having insurance the cost of health care for everyone will decrease. An insured person will no longer carry the burden of higher costs to cover the uninsured. Treatment options that are necessary will be available to everyone that needs them instead of to only those that can afford them or whose insurance will cover them.
Pro 5: No financial Burden on Our Children
In President Obama's speech on September 9, 2009 he stated that while the cost of the health care reform was $900 billion, it would be covered by money that was already in the budget that was being misused. He stated that the bill would not add one dime to the current deficit, it would actually decrease it by 1/10 of 1% each year.
Pro 6: Care for the Elderly
Obama's health care reform policy insures that Medicare is a treasure that must and will be protected for generations to come. He proposes to decrease wasteful spending in Medicare by tackling false claims and other Medicare abuses.
Pro 7: Medical Malpractice Reform
President Obama's plan includes a reform of the medical malpractice act. The reform will make fraudulent lawsuits stop, and they will help allow doctors to practice responsible medicine to make sure that patients are getting the care they need, and not care that protects the doctor.
As with everything in life, there are also cons to the Health Care proposal that is currently being presented.
Con 1: The cost
Many worry about the actual cost of the reform. It has been stated that the reform will cost $900 billion, and the President states that will be covered by money that is already in the budget that is being used wastefully. However there have not been any clear cut explanations of what wasteful spending is, and where it will be coming from.
Con 2: Possibility of Health Care Providers Increasing Coverage Rates
In an effort to still make the same income, health care providers may increase their fees. Without a policy that defines how health care providers can charge, the patient may still have to pay more in the end. Just as today a cash paying patient will pay a different amount than a patient with insurance, and each insurance company has negotiated rates with the providers already.
Con 3: Providers May Refuse to Accept Public Insurance
This issue has not even been covered in any information that is currently available. Not all health care providers accept all insurance carriers. Will providers be able to refuse Public Insurance?
These are just a few of the pros and cons of the current Health Care Reform proposal as we know it. As more information is released the positives and negatives will probably change. The bottom line remains that the United States needs health care reform.
Photo Credit: egadapparel
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I am a mompreneur and wellness educator who practices yoga in heels! A
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24 Comments:
First of all where is the money coming from because we are certainly in debt right now and i dont see all those rich stuck up people paying any piece of so i guess we lose either way.
both sides make a terrific argument although i think the pros are winning
You cant really say one side is winning when you look on a liberal site all you see is pros and when you look on a conservative site all you see is cons.
everyone should pay for their own health insurance.. the economy is terrible right now.
Was relised from my job reacently. I made more money then most at my position. as soon as the economy took a turn, I found myself jobless and without insurance. How do you propse I or others like us pay for that insurance? now I have a preexisting.. how will I pay for anything with that? at 27 i'm in a tight spot.. so the "terrible economy" is why I have no insurance.. loose your job, then come back and say that.. We need somthing in this country.. and it isint insurance thats attached to a job that will be cut when money is tight...try running a small business and affording insurance... everyone for them selves is the problem already.. time for change.
could you please put some more infomation on the health care bill i need some more info about it for school project it would help a lot.
dayshana green
east high
waterloo ia
If everyone could afford healthcare I think they would pay for it!!! hello!!
Not everyone can pay for their own health insurance, 80% of them are hardworking people who are NOT lazy or depending on government programs. These are the people who are suffering, The Middle Class.
We need to get these insurance and drug companies in check and come up with better solutions. Most hospital are not even breaking even right now because uninsured patients must be treated and that cost goes onto the insured individuals and the hospitals.
If it doesn't work, then we can change it, this is a democracy! but I think it is well worth a try.
This "is" America right? There is no doubt that we need health care reform, and I believe we have the ability to resolve this issue. We're a nation of problem solvers! It should be obvious the major obstacles are the FATCATS. Drug companies and insurance companies to name two! Every time you present any type of level playing field, they feel that their life style and money is threatened. Bottom line; Change is inevitable and needed, no matter what the issue. It's a part of this planets natural history and future. The only way to preserve our way of life is life. That means providing for everyone. We're all in this together folks, rich or poor. Take care :)
That's funny, I would consider my family as middle class citizens and we're doing just fine.
"That's funny, I would consider my family as middle class citizens and we're doing just fine."
well good for you! there are many other middle class citizens who are not! maybe you shouldn't be so closed minded and ignorant!!!
People should understand that the United States needs to impliment some sort of healthcare reform. Their will never be a "perfect" healthcare but we can get close. why dont we base our healthcare system off of France's system. Their ranked #1 in the World in healthcare. and were ranked in the mid 30's
It's funny how many pros there are and little cons in this article, when, in my opinion there is a lot more cons than pros. This article doesn't state how long people have to wait for treatments and to see specialists in the other countries that have Universal Health Care. Many people come to the United States for the proper treatments and little wait time. This is only one con there is many more.
This to me is not a good idea because the fact that people who dont have it and cant afford it will have to pay $1,500 for a fine or they will go to jail..that is a bunch of crap they cant afford health care then how can you make them pay a fine!!!
Equal healthcare for all? Doesn't sound fair when some of the American population is working hard and paying for their own health insurance. People who receive health insurance for close to free, that haven't held down a job in years and are milking the unemployment and welfare systems, have better insurance than I do with lower co-pays and lower prescription costs. (Don't get me wrong I know there are times when people need and deserve unemployment, its the one's who take advantage of it that I'm talking about).
And equal healthcare for everybody also means that people who work hard and pay for their own insurance, will have to make appointments years in advance because the American population that feeds off of welfare will be going to all the same doctors.
This is a democratic goverment not communism.
I personally think that the statement about equal health care for all " Doesn't sound fair when some of the American population is working hard and paying for their own health insurance. People who receive health insurance for close to free, that haven't held down a job in years and are milking the unemployment and welfare systems, have better insurance than I do with lower co-pays and lower prescription costs" ... This statement is the most self centered and selfish statement that I have ever heard ... I just wanna know... what does it matter if a person that has no job right getting the same amount of health care as a person that is working have to do with the cost of tea in China? You are focusing on the wrong thing... People need health care and quality of life is not something that should be for sale at any cost... I think that the statement abot the welfare system was so uncalled for, because you are clumping a group of people together that are not in the system for the same reasons or that have the same intentions... You seem to have a complex of being better then some one else we all should have the right to go to whatever health care professional that we want to ... whether we are paying for insurance or not... this is not a choice of an upscale restraunt or a pub... Thats not how it works.... when I read stuff like that I just shake my head because the bigger you are that harder you may fall and if you have a job right now enjoy it, because the economy is uncertain and one day you may become the people that you talk so lowly about. tsk... tsk... This is HEALTH CARE people... Every one deserves that!!!!
I find it hilarious that richest nation on earth does not provide adequate medical coverage to people who can not afford an insurance. Come on America and American people who are against this bill. Look at other countries, government of every other developed nation guarantees affordable treatment to their not so rich citizens. And you called yourself a civilized country!! Shame on you.
One 'Anonymous' states, "If everyone could afford healthcare, don't you think they would pay for it, hello". This is ABSOLUTELY incorrect. I work in the healthcare field and find in MANY cases, that people will find other things to spend their money on if they know they can get away with it. Many 'abusers' of healthcare know all too well that if they 'just don't pat the bill' it will be written off as a charity to that provider, which then costs the people who actually care to have health coverage ... I have seen people cause outrageous health care fees for the convenience of not driving to another city. They will be seen in an ER rather than their primary provider just for convenience and a quicker visit. Rather than make an appointment for 'tomorrow' at their clinic's available time, they will present in the ER out of convenience, knowing full well that they do not plan on paying that bill.
Many of these are people who have their financial priorities in the wrong order but that is a whole other story...
I find it hilarious that people are willing to place an entire system in the hands of the government; especially this system. The government has proved to the people several times that it is incapable of handling major programs insufficiently. Just look at the postal service...bankrupted, the social security system is predicted to go bankrupt sometime this year! Why would we allow the government to ruin yet another system?
"tsk... tsk... This is HEALTH CARE people... Every one deserves that!!!!"
Speaking of Selfish, everyone deserves it? at who's dime? because the United States is already in enough debt. So where will the money to pay for "Equal health care for all" come from? I certainley cannot afford it.
I believe in assisting the people that geniunely need it TEMPORARILY because you don't have to be unemployed to know the times are not good right now. What I'm referring to is the people that choose to not hold down a job and are not even looking.
This is to the person who stated that the U.S. is the "richest nation in the world" have you seen our deficit lately its like 1,560,000,000,000.00 so anyway maybe if we were feeding ever damn person on wellfare, and some type of government aid we might be doing ok. THe last thing we need to do is give the scum free health care.
This is my view, I think the government needs to step into the medical filed and into
the Insurance company's. I do believe that both need to be regulated and considered in the same way that are Police are . ( public servants ) they work for low wages,
and I'm sure there are caps on all positions. And I don't care if they are the worlds greatest
doctors. They are supposed to be in it to help people, not fill their pockets. Insurance
company's need the same guild lines. Both industries make and pay ridiculous amounts
of money. So, I say give control to the government and consider they public servants and caps on their wages. just like we do our law inforcement.
The goverment is the problem. However, the goverment is made up of the the same politicians we elect year after year. We have met the enemy and they are us. The politicians need to be told in general terms what the country needs. If they do not produce they get fired. Do not vote for incumbents. We have not been well served by either party.
I don't think its right that they will punish you if you don't have insurance. I think if they pass it they should make it your choice if you want insurance or not. I think the president needs to take a step back and get off his high horse. So the bill isn't going anywhere that aught to tell him something. So instead of trying to force it on us he needs to act like a real President who cares about the american people and see what we want. I think it is great if everyone who WANTS insurance can have it, but if you don't want it then you shouldn't be fined for not having it. If you don't want insurance and want to pay full price for your health care that's you and we should have that choice. Some people don't ever go to the doctor so they shouldn't have to be forced to pay for health insurance.
That's just my two cents on the deal everyone has one.
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