What does the landmark health care bill mean for us?



 

You might be asking yourself, "What does the healthcare bill mean for me? Well, I'm not well versed in politics, but here's what I've gathered about it. This is just my layman's understanding of the landmark healthcare reform bill.

More people will get healthcare.

Previously, Medicare and Medicaid mostly covered seniors - those two programs will now have an extended reach. Medicaid will now cover families under age 65 and who have income that is 33% greater than the federal poverty level.

Insurers have to cover people even if they have preexisting conditions.

That's pretty cool if you've been smoking for 40 years, have diabetes, hepatitis, and terminal cancer. I guess this means you would be covered. Now I'm not sure whether the new healthcare bill states that such a person would pay the same as somebody without all of those preexisting conditions, or if they simply would not be denied coverage but would have to pay higher premiums.

Now you have to have insurance.

Some people will automatically qualify for the expanded Medicaid and Medicaire programs. Others will not, and will purchase their own insurance. But if you are not covered by the government programs and you do not elect to purchase insurance, then you will be fined. In other words, Insurance would now be required by law, kind of like auto insurance.

The new Healthcare plan is projected to cost $940 billion over the next 10 years.

That of course is a projection, and probably an optimistic one as spending can get out of control when our government is doing the spending. Anyway, it looks like a lot of people are going to get the health care they elected Obama to get, and Americans are getting healthcare reform at a cost that's less than that of a top notch war.

Anyhow, it looks like a lot more people are going to have health care coverage. Some will get it at no cost. Others will purchase plans themselves. But everyone will have healthcare now because it's the law. Now that an effort has been made to provide every American with healthcare, perhaps Americans should take measures to insure their health in ways that don't cost so much. I'm talking about eating healthy, exercising, and ceasing to partake in unhealthy lifestyle choices.


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