Public Insurance Option
Having access to affordable health care is a top concern and priority for many Americans. Due to the current economic crisis, affordable health insurance is getting even more difficult to obtain. As is stands, quality health care is not available to every individual, family, or business in the country.
President Obama is proposing a new health insurance plan to congress within ‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’. Reforming the current health care system is supposed to ensure that everyone is able to access affordable, quality, and equal medical treatment and services. Supporters of the Public Insurance Option insist that a quality level of care will be available for everyone; the main difference is that the premium will be less. Following are just a few propositions that are to be included within this bill:
- Prohibit cancellation of health coverage except if there is evidence of fraud present.
- Prohibit most pre-existing condition exclusion.
- Limits out of pocket expenses to $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per family.
- Requires the Secretary of Health and human Services to develop quality measures for the delivery of health care services.
- Taxes employers who do not provide required health care plans to employees.
- Will provide a tax credit for low income individuals and families to assist them with insurance premiums.
- Will reduce Medicare payments to hospitals that have excessive re-admissions.
- Outlines administrative standards that will reduce costs and improve health services.
There is still substantial opposition to this proposed reform. Adversaries that because medical services will be offered for a lower fee, this will mean less pay for physicians. The result will deter new doctors from entering the medical industry; therefore, resulting in even less doctor to patient ratios.
Another argument against the new plan is that waiting times for certain medical procedures and treatments will increase and the care will be too thinly rationed across the country.
Perhaps the most deterring factor regarding the health care reform is the fact that more power for medical decisions will be put in the hands of bureaucrats, rather than doctors. Let’s face it, in the USA, health care is a big business and the purpose of a big business is making money. Are officials going to be more worried about the amount of profit they receive than about the health and well being of American individuals and families?
These are a few of the tough questions and concerns that Obama and other supporters will have to answer before the reform plan is passed in Congress.
There are a few alternative options that are also being scrutinized carefully. The following three both have a multitude of supporters and opposition.
Single payer lite – this plan would offer substantial discounts for individuals and families; meaning that services will be more efficient and cheaper than current private insurers. Basically, Americans would receive more coverage for a lower premium. This sounds extremely appetizing, however:
Level playing field plan – private insurers are balking at this idea because it puts them at a great disadvantage. They feel as if they are not on a ‘level playing field’. The solution to this argument is that these public insurers will not have shareholders or highly paid executives. Thus, private insurers will still have competition, but they will be more evenly matched. Another option would be:
Catch-all plan - This would combine the services of private insurers with public insurance that would be available for those whose income falls under a certain level.
