Does America now have Socialized Health Care
President Obama’s healthcare reform bill became law in March 2010 with the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Since Medicare and Medicaid were introduced, this represents the most noteworthy change of the healthcare system in the United States. Most of the issues and concepts are not new and focus on whether changes will make the healthcare system more efficient and equitable. Economists have specific definitions of these 2 attributes. Efficiency refers to the objective of maximizing the amount of goods and services and total societal welfare that are produced with a fixed level of resources.
This implies a focus on costs. Equity refers to the distribution of goods and services across individuals in society, measuring who gains and who loses when some policy change occurs. With the passage of the healthcare legislation, it is expected that every aspect of care delivery will undergo transformation, from health insurance premiums to quality of patient care.
The law has instilled a sense of fear and confusion among the public who are not exactly sure of the likely implications of the healthcare reform bill. Its analysis has unveiled what is in it and what is not, and what the law can do and cannot do. What is now definitely known is that:
- The healthcare law will no doubt increase the number of Americans with health insurance but it will fall short of the so-called “universal coverage.” A rough estimate is that by 2019, nearly 21 million Americans will be uninsured
- The cost of the legislation will be much more than originally announced. It is expected to cost more than $2.7 trillion over 10 years of full implementation that will probably add $352 billion to the national debt!
- A vast majority of the workers and businesses will notice very little, or in fact, no change in their already escalating insurance costs. But millions of other Americans including the younger and healthier workforce, and those who buy insurance through the non-group market companies will see their premiums rise faster
- There is a huge possibility that the law could raise taxes by more than $669 billion by 2019 causing a reduction in economic growth and employment
- Due to the rationing of care that will come about, it will interfere with how doctors practice medicine
- Even if people are happy with their insurance now, they may not be able to keep it
The more is unraveled, the more bad news comes for American taxpayers, businesses, healthcare providers, and, the patients. It looks like the law will leave us as a nation much less healthy and less prosperous, adding to the fear of uncertainty in the minds of individuals, seniors, and businesses alike.More at http://www.newsonhealthcare.com/preparing-for-socialized-health-caresome-patients-may-die-waiting-for-treatment/
