Public+Policy+-+Health+Insurance

The United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all of its citizens have health insurance coverage. One factor-keeping many people from getting private health insurance is the cost. The health care system in America is one of the most expensive in the world. Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in America. Approximately 15 percent of the United States population does not have health insurance. There are several reasons why someone may not be insured: The rising health insurance costs have lead to fewer employers offering health insurance. Some employers have raised the amount that each worker must contribute to the health insurance costs. Many people are not employed so it is difficult for them to get insurance. Others are rejected by health insurance companies because of preexisting conditions and are considered uninsurable. The debate of health insurance reform in the United States centers on the question: do people have a right to health care? People also ask weather reform is needed, what form should the reform take, and how will the reform be funded? Universal Health care is health insurance or healthcare coverage for all eligible residents of a political region. The government, whose involvement varies in different countries, funds the program. Supporters of universal health care argue that everyone has a right to health care. They believe that if everyone had access to health insurance they would be more likely to seek preventative care and adults with chronic conditions would get the treatment they need. It is argued that preventative care lowers the cost of an individual’s health care because it takes care of their problem before it develops into a more complicated problem. Having a government run health insurance program would also give the private health insurance companies competition so this may force them to lower cost. People who appose universal health care coverage argue that health care coverage is not a right. They have stated that universal health care coverage does not always guarantee universal access to care. This may be due to long waiting periods for care. They believe that eliminating the profit motive will decrease the level of care and rate of medical innovation. There are many arguments for and against health care reform. Congress must consider all issues when deciding weather to passing heath insurance reform bills or not. President Barack Obama has created a set of health care reforms and presented them to congress. The reforms are detailed in the document Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s plan to lower health care costs and ensure affordable, accessible health care coverage for all. The plan aims to improve efficiency and lower cost by using new health information technology. The plan intends to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. This care will include preventive care and chronic disease management. They also want to reform the market place to create competition. To help make sure that health insurance is not to expensive for businesses the reforms will offer federal reinsurance that covers catastrophic illnesses. The plan provides for all Americans to be eligible for affordable health care. This will be paid for by health insurance reform, reducing costs, and requiring employers to provide coverage or contribute to it. The plan would also provide for mandatory health insurance for children. Those ensured by their employers will receive the benefit of a cost reduction on their health insurance. Those not insured by and employer a national health insurance exchange will be available. Health insurance exchange is an organized market place set up by the government for the purchase of health insurance. The health insurance exchange that Obama has proposed will include private insurance and a government run option. Obama wants it to be a market where Americans can one stop shop for health insurance. Allowing them to compare plans easily and pick the best plan for themselves. The coverage will be guaranteed for all regardless of health status and premiums will not vary. It is estimated that this reform will cost sixty billion dollars annually. A major criticism of the reform is that it will be hard to provide funds for it. America’s Affordable Health Choices Act was presented to congress by several Democrats. This bill would help carry out Obama’s plan. This act was proposed in an effort to expand health insurance coverage to the uninsured by new taxes on the wealthy and government spending. Two questions are being asked in regards to this bill should the government provide an insurance plan that creates competition and should comparative research be used to contain costs of the public providers of health care. The law would require all Americans to have health insurance and all data would be maintained online. This bill prohibits pre-existing conditions and premium variance. It puts limitations on out of pocket expenses. It would establish a health insurance exchange program. It would provide for a tax credit for low income families to help pay for insurance. This bill would also establish a health benefits advisory committee who will recommend benefit standards. This is the first of three legislation proposals from the democrats on health care reform. The Congressional Budget Office analyzed this bill and estimated that it would cost the nation twenty five billion dollars a year. Critics of the bill feel that it will be tough for the private sectors to compete, causing more people to be insured by the public option than the private options. Critics also feel that a major cost reducer is missed in this bill. Some argue that malpractice law suits drive up the cost of health care. If legislation was put in place to make it more difficult to sue then doctors would not have to spend so much money on malpractice insurance. Another answer may be if someone sues for negligible reasons they have to pay a fee. This would make people think twice before suing. It is hard to say what the solution to America’s health insurance problem is. Something must be done to make heath insurance more accessible to all. Congress has not yet reached a decision. The democrats and republicans must come to a compromise for the countries benefit.
 * Health Insurance**