Name
Instructor
Course
Date
The Health Care Reform Act
The Health Care Reform Act was an introduction made by President Obama and his government with the aim of getting everyone a medical cover. The act ensures that everyone in the country has access to medical cover. In addition, it was made a mandatory action for everyone in the country to enroll under an affordable medical cover. Opposing the act of the citizens renders a 1% tax increment, which many find unjust (Béland Web). However, the Health Care Reform Act is constitutional given that merits outweigh the disadvantages of the change.
One of the primary elements of the reform is providing insurance for everyone in the country without considering whether they are already sick or not. Prior to the reform, no health insurers in the United States would give cover to people suffering from chronic disease. The argument for their action was that the person would eventually die without getting any medical solution to the illness. In the course of the illness, some of the patients suffering from chronic diseases would suffer without getting any medical attention. Other chronic disease patients would spend hefty amounts of money to cater for their medical care because none of the insurers would cater for their hospital bills (CNN Political Unit Web).
From a social perspective, the reform act caters for the needs of the society. For example, advocating for everyone to acquire health insurance is an effective way of encouraging a healthy nation. The act supports everyone’s health needs sans any considerations in regards to their earnings, age or health status. Preventive services in hospitals are free, which reduces diseases in the society by offering health measures that will prevent advancement of the illnesses. The act also minds the poor in the various states where in case one is unable to pay for the health insurance, the federal government pays the state, which eventually adds that to the Medicaid. However, if individuals do not qualify to fall in the Medicaid program, they get a tax credit to increase the money they are paid by their employers.
Based on an economic perspective, the reform act is keen on giving citizens the opportunity to keep their previous health insurances. In addition, businesses having less than 50 employees are exempted from the reform act. Thus, such business will not face economic changes that may require them to adjust the insurance packages they provide to their employees. On the contrary, the businesses large enough to accommodate more than 50 employees are expected to join the reform act (Langer Web). In turn, the businesses need to pay for their employees’ health insurance, and receive tax credits because of paying for their premiums.
Since the Health Care Reform Act came to be, it has received different views from the public and the political arena. The economic and social aspects of the act have been the concern of both the public and politicians. For example, some business can choose to stop paying for their employees’ health insurance premiums. In addition, some of the health insurance providers have a mandate to continue or stop providing for the covers. Recent surveys show that 49% of the citizens are in support of the act. Some of the politicians from the Republican party would like to introduce another act in place of the ongoing one in the country. However, a huge percentage of the Democrats are in support of the Health Care Reform Act. Despite the struggle between the supporters of the reform act and those in its denial, it is constitutional and it cares about the public.
Works Cited
Béland, Daniel. The Politics of Obamacare, Social Security, and Medicare. October 2013 Web. 22 April 2014.
CNN Political Unit. CNN Poll: Support for Obamacare slightly edges up. 11 March 2014 Web. 22 April 2014.
Langer, Gary. At 49 Percent Support, Obamacare Hits a High. 31 March 2014 Web. 22 April 2014.
