Obama Care Essays

Obama Care Essays Obama Care Essay Obama Care Essay Name Course Instructor Date Obama Care On March 23 2010, President Barrack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The law and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act are a representation of the most important regulatory overhaul in the USA healthcare system. This has occurred since the passage of the 1965 Medicaid and Medicare acts. Enactment of the law has already begun and is set to continue in the process of restructuring the healthcare system. This law, endorsed by president Obama elicited different reactions and controversies. Some people support the law. However, others have opposed the law stating it is not going to be beneficial. President Obama has taken a strong stand stating that contrary to this Americans will gain. Consequently, many protagonists and antagonists constantly refer to the law as Obama Care. Currently, the law is popularly known as Obama Care. However, Obama care is a double-edged sword for the American healthcare system. The debate on Obamacare has been a staged in many areas among citizens, professional in the field of health, among politicians and government executives. This debate led the bill through a court process that made the Supreme Court rule in favor of the bill (Crowley). Americans are experiencing one of the most crucial financial crises of all time. Some of the problems among many critics of the law are that it might be expensive for the individual American and the federal government. The long-term implications of the bill are under scrutiny. Speculations abound that the bill may increase budget deficits. The goal of ObamaCare is to provide efficient and affordable healthcare insurance for all United States of America citizens. It also aims at reducing the increased levels of health care spending. Health care spending has been rising in America since 1980 when the expenditure was $256 billion. In 2010, the expenditure reached a whooping $2.6 trillion. This growth rate is projected to develop faster than national income in the near future. Recession in recent years has fostered lower incomes and higher unemployment rates. Most individuals and families therefore find healthcare more of a luxury than a necessity. Obama care is a remedy for the state and such individuals under financial pressure. The law caters for those below the poverty level The tenets of the law ensure that all types of discrimination in health care coverage and provision are prevented. Accordingly, equal rights are safeguarded. In terms of insurance, sick people cannot be dropped from insurance cover. Therefore, individuals cannot be denied coverage for their preexisting conditions. In addition, women will not be charged higher rates as compared to men. Discriminatory practices are prevalent in women seeking insurance cover and treatment in hospitals. This is particularly evident in reproductive health. Women are also more likely than their male counterparts to proceed without necessary healthcare and treatment. Therefore, Obamacare’s full implementation in 2014 will eliminate these disparities. Many community healthcare centers are in deplorable conditions. These centers are also situated in areas where people live below the poverty line. Many wealthy Americans can afford private healthcare (Taylor). For the poor Americans, they have little or no option, but visit the community health center. These centers have some shortcomings such as; lack of adequate facilities in terms of medical and laboratory equipment, low doctor, nurse to patient ratio and relatively poor services. In additional, some of the facilities use outdated equipment and laboratory material. Obamacare seeks to alter the current status quo. Community heath centers under the law will be improved. Poor people will ultimately have access to efficient and effective treatment with improved facilities. As of 2007, up to 40 percent of insured Americans stated that their insurance cover did not adequately meet their requirements (Kaplan, et. al.). Insurance coverage that is affordable for many Americans would mean that they pay for what they can manage. Obamacare has the provision for insurance companies to compete for coverage under a system of insurance exchange pool. This will go a long way in decreasing insurance premiums for the majority of Americans. The total number of Americans that are between the 133% and 400% margin will be able to afford coverage. The lower the salary of an individual, the lower the percentage of income payment and the more help to be received. However, this system is deemed inefficient and ineffective in some sections of the American populace. The total share of insured Americans has been on a steady decline since the year 2000. In 2010, close to 84% of citizens in the US had some form of health coverage. Consequently, up to 49 million people had gone without health insurance for a significant period within that year. The pool of Americans under private insurance has shrunk. Majority of Americans are reliant on public insurance. Up to 31% of the total population is under public insurance programs. Obamacare therefore regulates these insurance programs (Keller). No one is forced to have insurance cover instead; people are urged to safeguard their health and that of their families. The insurance health exchange is set to go on sale in 2014 to offer a wide variety of protections and benefits. Over the past three years, tax credits have been distributed to Americans. The purpose of credits is to help people in healthcare payment. In addition, many middle class Americans will save a significant amount of money via tax cuts. The program is long term and more people are set to benefit. Waste from cuts reimbursements and Medicare to the private Medicare advantage plans are reduced under Obamacare. The $716 billion waste will be eliminated and finances are rescued for reinvestment in health care (Zax). Budget deficits have also increased in America for some time. Reduction in deficits is also an advantage of the law. However, some analysts and experts dispute that the law will lower budget deficits. These contradictions will become known with the complete implementation of the law. Obamacare is a suitable bill in restructuring the health care system and insurance, both important for America. However, the complications and issues it entails need to be addressed. Public awareness and education is instrumental in helping Americans understand the bill and demystify some of the myths it has solicited. Many people would like to see the law repealed. If this is done, majority of the American populace will devastated and lose the opportunity to have proper health coverage. If the statistics are anything to go by, insurance cover will ultimately be a luxury among citizens especially those from poor households. Insurance companies will also continue to deny proper health care coverage for preexisting conditions. These insurance companies are also controlled by wealthy individuals and companies whose ultimate goal is money and profit not appropriate health cover. Health care reform has been long overdue and Obamacare offers solutions to the problems in health provision. Work cited Crowley, Steven. â€Å"Health care reform and the Supreme Court (Affordable Care Act).† New York Times. 2 October 2012. Web. 18 November 2012. Kaplan, Robert and Michael Porter. â€Å"The big idea: How to solve the cost crisis in health care.† Harvard Business Review. September 2011. Web. 18 November 2012. Keller, Bill. â€Å"Five Obamacare Myths.† The New York Times. July 12 2012. Web. 18 November 2012. Taylor, Chris. â€Å"The health care reform that can’t be stopped.† Harvard Business Review. 18 April 2012. Web . 18 November 2012. Zax, J.S. â€Å"Paying for Obamacare.† Economist. 2011. Web. 18 November 2012.