Proposed Health Care Reform & Your Policy

During the last presidential election, many Americans voiced their concern about the mounting costs of medical care insurance and the need for reforms.  Considering the wealth and advancements that exist in our country, we still have a shockingly high number of citizens – even children – who lack any form of health insurance whatsoever.  In fact, our medical system is seen as the worst in the developed world.  This is simply unacceptable, and various activists and individuals begged the candidates to make the changes needed to ensure adequate health care for all legal U.S. residents. 

The biggest divide did, and still does, center upon exactly which reforms will make the most difference, with a multitude of organizations advocating the important changes they support.  What follows are some of their arguments.

Some Americans have become vocal advocates for a national system that will provide medical care to all citizens for no charge.  This is typically referred to as socialized medicine, and it is common practice in many other industrialized nations including Canada and the United Kingdom.  If you have been pricing out an individual or cheap group policy in the past few years, surely you can understand the appeal of universal health care; many families are paying ridiculous amounts of money just to keep coverage in case someone falls ill or gets injured.  Others are going uninsured because they don't qualify for state care through welfare programs but they also don't have the money to pay for a policy themselves.  With the current economic crisis, the issue has become even more pressing; people who once counted on the fact that their employers provide them with insurance are losing their jobs, and the security that came with them.   

Conversely, some of these people believe that the current, private health care system is the only answer.  They worry that the standard of care would be terrifically decreased if a universal system was put into place.  Usually, the people who advocate this position already have both insurance and the ability to pay their premiums without any serious financial strain.  However, some others fear that the government is incapable of properly managing something as big – and important – as this.  Others are concerned that their taxes will skyrocket to pay for the programs, and that they will end up losing more money than they already are through the private system.  Some go so far as to say that it is anti-capitalistic to provide health insurance for all citizens regardless of income.

In the middle, some Americans have called for reforms that will give people a choice about the type of insurance they carry.  Everyone would be eligible for government-sponsored medical care through the same carrier that provides it to congressional representatives and other government employees.  However, private health care would still remain an option for anyone who wanted to foot the bill for themselves.  Similarly, some call for federal subsidies to assist Americans with the expense of private insurance.  Still others want providers to be more tightly controlled so that there can be some oversight for issues that come up with HMOs and other referral-based programs. 

No matter how you feel about the right direction for our health care system, the bottom line is that finding affordable, quality insurance is subject that weighs heavily on your mind just as it does everyone else's.  You can take steps right now to find a medical policy that will provide your family or group with needed coverage, without breaking the bank.