Health Care Reform: 10 Things You Should Know

Health Care Reform: 10 Things You Should Know

Health Care: What You Should Know - Americans have been stuck in heated debates over President Obama’s health care plans. Supporters give many reasons his plan will help us, while others tear it apart and call it dangerous. The truth lies somewhere in between. Whether you support health care reform or not, here are 10 facts you should know that might help you make your decision.

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Health Care: What You Should Know - Americans have been stuck in heated debates over President Obama’s health care plans. Supporters give many reasons his plan will help us, while others tear it apart and call it dangerous. The truth lies somewhere in between. Whether you support health care reform or not, here are 10 facts you should know that might help you make your decision.

System Is Broken - We can argue about how we do it, but we do need reform. If we don’t change our health care system, soon we won’t be able to afford it. Right now, state budgets are stretched thin trying to cover health care costs. The federal government spends one-fifth of the national budget on health care and costs for medical care are rising faster than the rate of inflation. It’s only a matter of time before the system completely collapses.

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System Is Broken - We can argue about how we do it, but we do need reform. If we don’t change our health care system, soon we won’t be able to afford it. Right now, state budgets are stretched thin trying to cover health care costs. The federal government spends one-fifth of the national budget on health care and costs for medical care are rising faster than the rate of inflation. It’s only a matter of time before the system completely collapses.

You Could Easily Be a Victim - Even if you’re covered by your employer, your insurance might not cover certain illnesses or you might still have to dig into your pockets to pay a high bill if your plan has a deductible on certain kinds of treatments. According to the New York Times, three-fourths of Americans who go bankrupt because of high medical bills, had health insurance plans.

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You Could Easily Be a Victim - Even if you’re covered by your employer, your insurance might not cover certain illnesses or you might still have to dig into your pockets to pay a high bill if your plan has a deductible on certain kinds of treatments. According to the New York Times, three-fourths of Americans who go bankrupt because of high medical bills, had health insurance plans.

Death Panel a Myth - A rumor has been circulating that under the Obama health care plan, a panel will decide which elderly citizens are “worthy” of health care based on their quality of health or level of productivity. A number of independent fact-checking groups have called this a “myth.” The White House also flatly denies this claim. One of the people who started the rumor, Betsy McCaughey, recently stepped down from her position as a director of Cantel Medical Corp.

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Death Panel a Myth - A rumor has been circulating that under the Obama health care plan, a panel will decide which elderly citizens are “worthy” of health care based on their quality of health or level of productivity. A number of independent fact-checking groups have called this a “myth.” The White House also flatly denies this claim. One of the people who started the rumor, Betsy McCaughey, recently stepped down from her position as a director of Cantel Medical Corp.

Public Option - The White House, Democrats in Congress and a few Republicans want a public option. The details are still being sorted out, but under this plan, a government administered plan will be open to the public with lowered cost insurance coverage. This plan will be open to all Americans. If someone were to lose his or her job, they would be able to buy insurance through this plan. The goal, the White House says, is to drive down the high costs for care insurance companies charge.

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Public Option - The White House, Democrats in Congress and a few Republicans want a public option. The details are still being sorted out, but under this plan, a government administered plan will be open to the public with lowered cost insurance coverage. This plan will be open to all Americans. If someone were to lose his or her job, they would be able to buy insurance through this plan. The goal, the White House says, is to drive down the high costs for care insurance companies charge.

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The "Firewall" - Employers will not be able to cancel their corporate or small business health insurance plans and enroll employees into the public option. The government will mandate that they continue providing insurance to their employees through private insurers. This will keep insurance companies in business but protect employees. The government is calling this protection the “Firewall.”

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The "Firewall" - Employers will not be able to cancel their corporate or small business health insurance plans and enroll employees into the public option. The government will mandate that they continue providing insurance to their employees through private insurers. This will keep insurance companies in business but protect employees. The government is calling this protection the “Firewall.”

Nobody Turned Down - Under the President’s proposal, insurance companies will not be able to turn customers down because they have pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, HIV, cancer or other serious diseases that require costly medications.

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Nobody Turned Down - Under the President’s proposal, insurance companies will not be able to turn customers down because they have pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, HIV, cancer or other serious diseases that require costly medications.

What Is "The Exchange"? - All health care plan providers (insurance companies) will have to operate through an “exchange.” The United States Congress will set the rules of the exchange and enforce them through a Health Choices commissioner. That person will ensure that insurance providers are meeting basic regulations in order to participate.

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What Is "The Exchange"? - All health care plan providers (insurance companies) will have to operate through an “exchange.” The United States Congress will set the rules of the exchange and enforce them through a Health Choices commissioner. That person will ensure that insurance providers are meeting basic regulations in order to participate.

Health Reform - Senate Democrats could soon reveal their version of a health care reform bill. The legislation will increase penalties on employers who don’t provide health coverage. The bill will included a new public health-insurance plan, although states would have an option on whether or not they will participate, The Wall Street Journal reports.

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Medicaid and Medicare Will Not End - Medicaid, a federally-backed program that covers low-income Americans, will continue. Under President Obama’s plans, people who have Medicaid benefits will continue to have them. Seniors who rely on the Medicare system for health insurance will also keep their benefits. The government is also promising lower co-pays for seniors by increasing the supply of lower-cost drugs not manufactured by big pharmaceutical companies.

What About Illegal Immigrants? - President Obama’s health care plan will not cover illegal immigrants. Right now, illegal immigrants without insurance can only receive care in emergency rooms. This policy will continue.

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What About Illegal Immigrants? - President Obama’s health care plan will not cover illegal immigrants. Right now, illegal immigrants without insurance can only receive care in emergency rooms. This policy will continue.

How Will We Pay For It? - Right now, America spends $2 trillion a year on health care. President Obama is promising to not sign a bill that would drive up those costs. He says that his plan will actually cut spending by reducing billions of dollars insurance companies receive in government subsidies and other forms of waste, fraud and abuse within existing government health programs. There are also plans on the table to move to an electronic system, which will cut costs associated with paperwork.

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How Will We Pay For It? - Right now, America spends $2 trillion a year on health care. President Obama is promising to not sign a bill that would drive up those costs. He says that his plan will actually cut spending by reducing billions of dollars insurance companies receive in government subsidies and other forms of waste, fraud and abuse within existing government health programs. There are also plans on the table to move to an electronic system, which will cut costs associated with paperwork.