Health Care Reform Explained

Ashley Centers Health Care Reform: Fact vs. Fiction Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. —Albert Einstein Obama has promised change, in many different forms, since the early days of his first presidential campaign more than four years ago and on June 28, just five months before Election Day, he came one step closer to keeping that promise when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of this health care reform plan in a landmark 5-4 ruling. “Obamacare” has been a courageous effort since day one on the part of the president and his supporters and is a favorite topic of debate, criticism, and praise. On the other hand, it has already begun to make major waves in women’s health, religion and social justice circles. Before the ways this legislation will change health care, especially for women, elderly, and the impoverished are discussed it must be made clear exactly what this “Obamacare” entails. “Obamacare” is actually two different acts related to health care reform. The first is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the second (and most recent) ”the health care reform is primarily being presented as alternative insurance coverage for Americans who cannot afford or receive private insurance for whatever reason.” The Obama administration has done an impressive job of laying out exactly what this legislation, in two different phases, will and won’t do. They’ve also figured out how the reform will be paid for and implemented. In everything, there’s fact and then there’s fiction and only facts should be taken seriously. What most Americans, critics or supporters don’t realize or are choosing to ignore are the facts. The facts they can read online for free in the actual pieces of legislation. Before somebody criticizes or praises the bill they need to understand it. For now, a simplified explanation of what the health care reform is and how it will positively impact lives (especially those of women and other minorities) everywhere will have to suffice. A group of Obama supporters who are also in favor of health care reform have put together www.obamacarefacts.com, where they have listed just the facts of this reform in a very easy to read way (also, the website is easy to navigate). The major, most important facts of the legislation (again, courtesy of their website) will now be listed. • Phase I of II of health care reform has was signed into law on March 3, 2010 and has done things such as prevent insurance companies drop an individual because of a preexisting condition, require insurance plans to cover preventative measures and let children on their parents policies stay on said policies until the age of 26, regardless of whether or not

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they’re students. “Obamacare” does not replace private insurance or Medicaid. It is an alternative option with the goal of helping those who cannot afford insurance obtain it without breaking the bank. Medicaid will be reformed and expanded in order to help cover more people, especially those below the poverty level. A person will only pay what he or she can afford without sacrificing the quality of healthcare received. This is what it means to have affordable healthcare for everybody. Employers will need to provide comparable coverage to the Health Care for America Plan or pay a modest and fair Tax to support Obamacare. This tax is similar to the unemployment and workers compensation tax employers currently pay. Nobody will be forced to buy insurance through the Health Care for America Act. Private insurance will always be an option. Everybody will be forced to have some sort of health insurance, however. Those who make $250,000 and above will be subject to a higher tax (0.09 percent). Although a tax is not ideal, it comes with health coverage for everybody. ObamaCare aims to make it easier for small businesses to provide coverage to workers by offering Tax Credits to employers who enroll their workers in private healthcare plans.

Obviously, any health care reform is going to be complex but for Americans the benefits far outweigh the downfalls. Claudia Wohlfeil, a University of Idaho bookstore employee (title in transition) has been very vocal with her opinions on the necessity of health care reform in America. “In my opinion, our current system is a for-profit business,” said Wohlfeil. “Insurance companies are in it for the money and when you’re in it for profit the bottom line is what matters. People don’t matter. I’m not saying insurance companies shouldn’t make money. However, they shouldn’t make money on the backs of society. We should do some things for the greater good of society and I think this will do that.” Wohlfeil said she’s particularly happy that insurance companies can no longer deny individuals with preexisting health conditions or refuse to pay for preventative measures, including contraception. Contraception has been a controversial issue within health care reform because the Catholic Church doesn’t believe in birth control and therefore doesn’t want to pay for it. “Contraception is a great thing.” said Wohlfeil. “I think women being able to space their children out and have things on their timeline is a good thing and there are arguments as to why doing it the Catholic way might be a better way or whatever but I’m not so concerned about that. To me, this is a health issue not a religious argument.” http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/28/a-supreme-win-for-women-

the-crucial-benefits-of-obamacare.html http://obamacarefacts.com/