Benefits
After researching the extent to which the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will benefit the American people, I have concluded that the personal beliefs of an individual greatly affect the answer. I believe the act greatly benefits America as a whole. It strengthens coverage for the underprivileged and shuts-down “bare-bones” plans which don’t cover a comprehensive scope of ailments. The act protects citizens from uninsuredness while reducing the cost of health insurance. |
| President Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law |
Downsides
One could argue, as many of my sources have, that the act goes too far in its attempt to protect. Forcing young, healthy Americans who may not need insurance to buy insurance can be seen as a forced subsidization of the old and sick. Is this an example of the act overstepping boundaries of government control?
Unbalanced
subsidies make the utilization of the new health care exchanges ideal, a
potentially unfair element for those using employer provided insurance. I am
forced to wonder if this will cause people to leave employer provided insurance
for the exchanges. Can the PPACA budget afford the potential number of people
who will switch? My sources disagree on this issue.
Going Forward
As
I continue researching these issues, I have little faith that I will find
answers. As an unimplemented system, no one can be sure precisely how the
finances will work out, or how people will utilize the new resources available.
Can the IRS successfully track who has and hasn’t got insurance and tax
appropriately? Will the individual mandate be successful in its goal to extend
insurance coverage to the 30 million uninsured adults in the U.S.?
I
still want to continue researching the effects of the act, like how the quality
of care will be affected. I want to search for more evidence on the financial
realities of the act, which may mean interpreting opinions of experts who can
only make educated guesses. I haven’t found anyone using clear, concise data to
explain the finances of the act. I’ve been unable to find clear data on the
costs of new insurance policies on the exchanges, the size of subsidies for
groups, or the cost of violating the individual mandate.
I’m
still thinking about whether or not the PPACA benefits U.S. citizens. Although
the plan is a meaningful step forward, logistic problems may trip up progress.
In the long run, the plan will probably improve the health coverage U.S. Citizens.
Even if it doesn't help everyone fairly, at least more people will be covered
by health insurance. Is this in line with the American spirit?
