Healthcare has always been a heated topic in America. However, a proposed healthcare bill may be the solution to these problems.
On Oct. 29, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the legislation, considered a milestone by Democrats and advocacy groups. The bill’s goal, in Pelosi’s words, is to “provide universal, quality, and affordable health care for all Americans.” The $1.06 trillion healthcare bill aims to do this by including a public option, which would allow the uninsured to purchase health insurance through a government-run program, and by preventing health insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are health conditions or illnesses an individual may have before joining a new healthcare plan. These conditions can cost health insurance companies millions, so many people have been denied coverage because of their pre-existing conditions. If put into effect, the bill will cover an additional 36 million people, leaving only 4% uncovered. The bill would also provide relief for small business, releasing them from the requirement to provide workers with benefits.
Why was the Senate stimulated to put together a government-run healthcare plan? In our current healthcare system, companies pay the entire cost or a large portion of their employees’ healthcare plans, while the actual participant pays none or a small portion of the total cost. Because of the recent economic downturn, many people have been laid off, therefore being taken off of their company’s healthcare benefits. Many people opt to stay on a plan called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), which will allow the participant to stay on the employer’s group health plan for a period of 18-36 months. After this period, the participant would be on their own. This means no health insurance unless the usually-jobless participant chooses to purchase an individual plan, which is much more costly. As a result of the economic downfall, a large portion of the population have found themselves jobless, and consequently, with no health insurance. Of course, without health insurance, this portion of the population cannot receive urgent health care when and if they need it.
As with every plan, there is criticism and opposition. Republicans deem this bill to as “a government takeover,” while larger businesses say that the bill does not do enough to cover rising healthcare costs. Republicans suggested a smaller, step-by-step plan that will make healthcare more affordable, by allowing consumers to buy insurance across the state and small businesses to pool resources to buy insurance at the same price as bigger corporations. As for the proposed bill, it is true that the proposed budget of $1.06 trillion exceeds Obama’s $900 billion benchmark, even though the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that over the next decade, the bill would reduce the state deficit by $104 trillion.
Whatever the outcome of this debate may be, one thing is for sure: It will have to be a compromise across the board, Democrats, Republicans, and liberals included
On Oct. 29, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the legislation, considered a milestone by Democrats and advocacy groups. The bill’s goal, in Pelosi’s words, is to “provide universal, quality, and affordable health care for all Americans.” The $1.06 trillion healthcare bill aims to do this by including a public option, which would allow the uninsured to purchase health insurance through a government-run program, and by preventing health insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are health conditions or illnesses an individual may have before joining a new healthcare plan. These conditions can cost health insurance companies millions, so many people have been denied coverage because of their pre-existing conditions. If put into effect, the bill will cover an additional 36 million people, leaving only 4% uncovered. The bill would also provide relief for small business, releasing them from the requirement to provide workers with benefits.
Why was the Senate stimulated to put together a government-run healthcare plan? In our current healthcare system, companies pay the entire cost or a large portion of their employees’ healthcare plans, while the actual participant pays none or a small portion of the total cost. Because of the recent economic downturn, many people have been laid off, therefore being taken off of their company’s healthcare benefits. Many people opt to stay on a plan called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), which will allow the participant to stay on the employer’s group health plan for a period of 18-36 months. After this period, the participant would be on their own. This means no health insurance unless the usually-jobless participant chooses to purchase an individual plan, which is much more costly. As a result of the economic downfall, a large portion of the population have found themselves jobless, and consequently, with no health insurance. Of course, without health insurance, this portion of the population cannot receive urgent health care when and if they need it.
As with every plan, there is criticism and opposition. Republicans deem this bill to as “a government takeover,” while larger businesses say that the bill does not do enough to cover rising healthcare costs. Republicans suggested a smaller, step-by-step plan that will make healthcare more affordable, by allowing consumers to buy insurance across the state and small businesses to pool resources to buy insurance at the same price as bigger corporations. As for the proposed bill, it is true that the proposed budget of $1.06 trillion exceeds Obama’s $900 billion benchmark, even though the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that over the next decade, the bill would reduce the state deficit by $104 trillion.
Whatever the outcome of this debate may be, one thing is for sure: It will have to be a compromise across the board, Democrats, Republicans, and liberals included