Obama has proposed a solution for all of these problems and more with a new health care plan that is starting to be implemented. According to the White House, under the Affordable Care Act, which was passed March 3, 2010, health insurance is mandated for all citizens—similar to current car insurance. To make this possible, it will have the largest tax cuts for health care in history for the middle class—it will make it possible for tens of millions of families and small business owners to afford insurance. It also lays out stricter rules for insurance companies to keep premiums low. Also in an effort to make insurance available and affordable for every citizen, it illegalized discrimination against pre-existing conditions. Another bill that was signed into law is the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorizatio
n Act, which provides quality health care to 11 million children – 4 million who were previously uninsured. Obama’s plan is aiming to shorten the gap of health disparities in America.
Although all of these parts of the Affordable Care Act sound great, the act poses a few problems as well. First, it will lower the amount paid to doctors for medical services under Medicaid and Medicare. Insurance companies pay a certain percentage above Medicaid/care costs so as the government lowers the amount paid, the insurance price will also be lowered. For example, a surgery costs $1,500 through Medicaid. A person with private insurance will pay 20% more equaling $1,800. If the law mandates that the government will only pay $1,000 now then the insurance companies will lower their amount paid to $1,200. Granted, some doctors make more money than reasonable and can afford that pay cut, but some doctors may not be able to continue practicing and many may shut their doors to government patients. This is especially a relevant problem now because there are shortages of primary care providers because of so many physicians going into specialties.
Second, Obama’s health care plan spends much more money than before and could be detrimental to America’s economy. According to Republicans in Congress, the health care plan includes almost $1 trillion dollars in spending and will cause health spending to jump even more than the originally projected 16.6% to 17.6% of GDP (gross domestic product) this year alone. Six billion dollars of this budget is proposed to help cancer research—yet the law also imposes pharmaceutical cost controls that will discourage companies from wanting to invest in developing new cancer treatments. With the Affordable Care Act, many businesses will be required to provide insurance to their employees or put money into a government fund to cover the uninsured. With the desperate state of the economy now, this financial burden is the last thing businesses need. Obama’s plan may prove to be successful in the end with a few amendments, but there are still a few bumps in the road on the journey to efficient and effective health care in the U.S.
americanhealthreform 
Hey Bryndee, I am happy to see this is your blog. It’s a good blog too. I agree with most of the points in this article. I think a lot of it is a matter of opinion. I personally think the bill passed is actually bare minimum of what needs to be done. Also, Republicans keep saying that it costs so much money, and they are right. However, we need to change the system; that will never be cheap no matter what political party is in charge. I think a question–which is often ignored–is how much of a right is health care? Should every American have access to health care? (in a equal way)… Anyway, I am sure we find ourselves on the same side of the argument. I like the blog and I’ll keep reading.
I wish we had more knowledge of what is in this bill. I know that it can be downloaded and looked at. However, I hear it is like 900 pages long and very confusing. There are a few aspects I like, including being able to keep your children on longer. Other things, I don’t like. It will be interesting.
GREAT looking blog, the graphics fit the content perfectinly.
We absolutely need a change..no, a revamp of the current system. Understanding all that entails is a whole other ballgame! Keep the great updates and reports coming.
As a public health major, sadly, i am not too into governmental stuff that goes on, so thank you for making it so understandable. I loved that you gave an example too.
The bill is so long and extensive, that even those who passed the bill didn’t even completely understand all that was included.
Very interesting. I learned a lot and agree with a lot that was said in the article.
Like Sean I think that people need to think about the real question “Is medical care a right for everyone?” When we can answer that question we can decide what we really need to do. I think obamacare was a good idea to start health reform, but I don’t think it was done correctly. After reading “Landmark” by the Washington Post, I have realized how much was done to make this bill pass.