Obamacare When Campaigning for the Presidential Elections

Obamacare

When campaigning for the presidential elections to be held in 2008, the two forefront candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain both announced that they wished for a health reform to be made for the welfare of the American people. It was planned that the next president would implement the reform they personally supported.

The reform that Barack Obama campaigned was meant to provide 'universal healthcare' to all of the United States of America. Statistics have shown that almost 40 million people living in America do not have health insurance, and therefore not only are they left unsecured, they also leave a burden on tax payers, with whose money, health care is provided for such people. The reason why so many people were uninsured was because people could not afford its cost.

The health care reform formally got passed on March 23, 2010 in the East Room of the White House. Although it has been two years since the event, the health plan is yet to be fully imposed into law. The Affordable Care Act that President Obama signed has components that are fully to be implemented by 2014. However, efforts to impose it have already begun.

In April 2010, states became able to fund for more patients through Medicaid in the case of there being no federal funds. In July 2010, people without insurance who already had conditions found themselves new options to avail, and in September that year, children under the age of 26 were given the chance to receive insurance as long as their parents were insured. Free services such as colonoscopies and mammograms were also provided and insurance companies were denied the ability to stop insuring people who may have made errors in their forms. It is also now possible to lawfully challenge the decision of an insurance company.

In 2011, much more was introduced. For instance, preventative measures started to be taken for the health of the American people. Senior residents of the country were given the privilege to receive discounts on prescribed drugs. They also started receiving free preventative care. Centers of Medicare also began discovering new ways to provide health care of better quality to patients from 2011 and onwards.

In 2012, Accountable Care Organizations were introduced and were told to improve the quality of health care and the prevention of diseases. These organizations are believed to help save money that may otherwise have to be spent for healthcare. As yet these, are the major reforms of the complete Obama Care reform that has been made effective. Many more reforms have been assigned to become law very soon, for instance, reducing administrative costs of hospitals by making work more technical and electronic. In October 2012, the law from establishing Value-based Purchasing Program is going to be made effective in which performance will be linked to financial incentives.

In 2013, preventative health programs will be introduced. Primary care doctors will also get a pay raise for their work. Children not eligible to receive Medicaid will also receive funding for further two years.

From 2014 and onwards, people will be able to exchange insurance plans affordably by offering options to fit in perfectly for particular needs and situations. It will also become incumbent on those who can purchase insurance to do so to help in caring for the uninsured of America. Employees will also be able to take benefit of the funds employers allot for their workers insurance and therefore receive the most affordable health plan rather than being forced to buy the one the employer provides. Medical care will be made affordable through several measures. Insurance companies will also be unable to limit coverage for patients who take part in clinic trials. Annual limits by health insurers will also not be considered. Anti-discrimination policies within the hospital and the increase in insurance tax credit of small businesses will also be introduced. ("What's Changing and When ")

Mainly, in this way will the health care plan be fully implemented by the year 2014.

The health reform which has been introduced has several ups and downs. There is a great difference in the people who will actually gain something from this reform and those who will be at loss. There shall be a high number of new people who will be able to purchase coverage through the introduction of insurance exchanges. Alongside that, people will be able to enroll themselves into either Medicare or Children's Health Insurance Program. Those under 26 will also be free of the burden of acquiring an individual health insurance and will be able to use that of their parents. Tax payers may also benefit as they will not have to pay as much tax due to the lower burden of the expenses. This means that there will be around 40 million people to apparently gain from this reform. However, there will also be such people who will find it a disadvantage and an inability to purchase insurance outside of the exchange policy as well as those who will lose their insurance being covered by their employers. These people will obviously be at loss. Moreover, 20 million people will still remain without insurance after all such efforts, including people who are residing in the United States illegally. (Parmet)

The key components of this famous health care reform are mentioned as follows. The first is that American's will be given the choice to choose their most suitable insurance coverage which will be priced affordably and competitively. Secondly, Medicaid shall be extended whilst giving all states equal attention medically. With this, states shall be able to strategically improve the quality of care for their people through Medicaid. This new law shall also commit to working with the senior citizens and residents of the United States and give incentives to all those working at hospitals to reduce medical errors.

Fourth, it shall aim to prevent the spread of diseases and illnesses that weaken the population and increase medical costs. It shall also give incentives to increase primary care such as physicians and nurses by reducing their financial burdens. Alongside these components, it shall also be of aid to patients by helping them play more of an active role in making decisions about their health issues by providing them information. With this, it shall also make treatments and therapies more accessible to all groups of the population by providing discounts etcetera. The eight component of this law is that it shall give the American people services to help cope with disabilities. By this, tax payers shall not be burdened under the circumstance of a citizen developing a disability. This law shall also make health insurances more affordable for the middle class group by reducing the tax burden. The last main component of this law is that it shall make health care services accessible by American Indians and natives of Alaska. (Parmet)