Opinion over America's universal health care program is divided.
In March 2010 President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. According to the White House website, the law provides for health insurance reforms that will bring about greater health care choices, lower health care costs, keep insurance companies accountable and increase the quality of health care in the United States.
Preventative Services
As of September 23, 2010, anyone who purchases or joins a new health insurance plan must receive preventative services without out-of-pocket costs. This means insurance companies cannot charge patients co-insurance, co-payments or deductibles. Examples of these services include prenatal and new baby care, colonoscopies, mammograms and immunizations.
Primary Care
The Affordable Care Act also guarantees anyone who has enrolled in or purchased new insurance since September 23, 2010 the right to select their own primary care physician. General practitioners, pediatricians and Ob-Gyns may be selected from within a network without a referral, and members are also guaranteed out-of-network emergency care. At the same time, the act guarantees Americans the right to appeal any insurance company rulings to an independent third party. According to the White House, the preventative services measure as well as the primary care and appeal provisions will affect as many as 88 million people by the year 2013.
2014
The first measures of the Act are intended to act as a bridge to 2014, when new plans will be implemented. The Act calls for state-run health insurance providers that will allow small businesses and individuals to buy insurance coverage with the same choice of insurance companies available to members of the United States Congress.
Benefits
The White House reports the Affordable Care Act will reduce health care costs and increase the quality of care available in the United States. It estimates coverage will be available to an additional 32 million Americans. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the Affordable Care Act could save the United States more than $100 billion between 2010 and 2020, and an addition $1 trillion between 2020 and 2030.
Considerations
Not everyone agrees with the cost savings estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. BalancedPolitics.org notes taxpayers may have to pay for or subsidize universal health care with tax increases or cuts in other areas, such as education or scientific research. The website also notes removing the privatization of health care could take away health care providers and insurance company incentives to cut costs and seek effective solutions.
Public Opinion
On October 20, 2010, ABC News reported 62 percent of Americans prefer a universal health care program instead of the current system, versus 32 percent who do not. However, if the new health care system demands a limited selection of doctors or waiting periods for non-emergency health care, the support drops to less than four in 10.
Tags: health care, Affordable Care, United States, health insurance, insurance companies
