Barack Obama's health care reform bill is already receiving criticism. Republicans are working hard to get it repealed. Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, says that the basic idea behind the Republicans' reasoning is to, "force people to live with the consequences of whatever happens to them." He compares our current health care debate to Social Darwinism of the 19th century when only the fittest would survive. All others would be left behind.
Health care costs are going to rise much faster and much higher if the new health care legislation is repealed. If the legislation is not repealed, some 30 million Americans are going to receive health insurance. Again, if the health care bill is repealed, these 30 million Americans are going to be put in much more expensive emergency rooms, and who's going to have to pay? America's taxpayers are.
The new health care bill is going to help slow the rise of health costs. The medical "exchange" it calls for will provide people with useful information about health costs and benefits. Currently, individuals have almost no choice in the coverage they are purchasing. The marketplace is very confusing and insurance companies are not required to provide people with information about the costs and benefits they will be receiving or not receiving under a certain plan. Therefore, it is easy to get "ripped off." The new bill, however, requires an exchange that will make choices easier, more understandable, and less expensive by providing information about the costs and benefits they will be receiving.
I agree that healthcare reform could be quite beneficial to citizens of America, as some of them are not receiving complete healthcare and are therefore not receiving proper medical attention. However, I am still unsure of president Obama’s solution to the problem. I admire his attempt to actually make progress, instead of just campaigning and talking about change, but I think his plan may be flawed. On paper, his plan sounds okay—make everyone get health insurance and prices go down. But if there is a decrease in competition among the insurance companies (as there will be) many of them will disappear, leaving only a strong few. As there are fewer and fewer insurance companies (the supply), the demand will inevitably go up, causing prices to go up once again. Furthermore, who will pay for the health insurance of citizens who simply cannot afford even the most basic insurance policy? The taxpayers? I think the anti-healthcare reform side will be important to consider as you continue your blog, as it will reduce a biased tone. But, overall you’re doing a great job.
ReplyDeleteThere will actually be more competition in the market because more people will need health insurance so they will go out looking for it. There will be affordable health insurance options so people don’t have to settle for a not so good cheap one. They will have a choice. Consumers do better when there is choice and competition. That’s how the market works. There isn’t much competition right now because people don’t have to have health insurance. Also, not everyone has to switch to the universal health care plan. People can stay on their existing plan if they are happy with it. People will have the option to choose the insurance they want. As for those who cannot afford health insurance on their own, the government will provide them with subsidies so they can afford it. Yes, this will be paid for by the American public but we are already spending a fortune on sick people without health insurance that have to go to the emergency room. Helping them get insurance before they get sick will be much cheaper than waiting until they get extremely sick and need expensive, immediate medical treatment.
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