As it stands, healthcare reform is still a heavy debate in the United States. It seems that health reform affects all types of people. These also include senior citizens.
Many senior citizens in the United States are afraid that the reform of the healthcare system may raise costs and/or pinch their benefits. According to CNN.com, President Barack Obama and his supporters have a launched a public information campaign to rally support for reform proposals that are still being debated and argued in Congress. Most senior citizens are quite content with the Medicare and private insurance they receive and are not excited about the current talk of healthcare reform. How will this new bill affect the senior citizens.
According to the new healthcare reform bill, most senior citizens will not see any rise in their costs of insurance or Medicare. For those who are less than 65 years of age and are not qualified to get Medicare, the new reform bill would prohibit the insurance companies form denying healthcare insurance to those under 65 with expensive health problems.
With this new reform bill, senior citizens will not have to worry about their costs of insurance rising or that they may have to switch to a different insurance company. Based on news reports, the new healthcare reform bill will help in bringing fairness and stability to all types of citizens in the United States. Also, it will help in fixing our broken down healthcare system that the United States have today.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
How are the Docs affected
As early as July this year, President Obama narrowed the healthcare system to four components consisting of: Doctors, Insurance Companies, Hospitals and Patients.
For the past couple of months now, it looks like the only group that is not comfortable with the on going reform draft bill is the Insurance companies. There has been consistent lobbying from the Insurance companies to block the passage of the current bill because it contains the so called “public option.” The insurance companies feel the public option will compete extensive with their business and will cut into their profit margins in the future.
What I am wondering then is: “where are the doctors?” From what I understand, the current reform bill is about two thousand pages and I feel that a lot must have been written about the doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. The doctors and hospitals need to speak up and they must be heard. Placing the spotlight on the insurance companies alone gives me concern.
While looking through the Physicians’ website, medical physicians will be rewarded for being good doctors. What this means is that the government and different private programs can reward doctors for providing high quality healthcare at lower costs. This would give doctors a better reason to provide more care to patients.
Also, hospitals were agreeing to cut about $150 - $170 billion over a decade in administrative cost so as to support the healthcare reform plan. The plan will in return have millions of uninsured patients to buy insurance which would allow for more patients to get the help they need.
It seems that the government is providing a way for doctors and hospitals to be rewarded for just supporting health care reform.
For the past couple of months now, it looks like the only group that is not comfortable with the on going reform draft bill is the Insurance companies. There has been consistent lobbying from the Insurance companies to block the passage of the current bill because it contains the so called “public option.” The insurance companies feel the public option will compete extensive with their business and will cut into their profit margins in the future.
What I am wondering then is: “where are the doctors?” From what I understand, the current reform bill is about two thousand pages and I feel that a lot must have been written about the doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. The doctors and hospitals need to speak up and they must be heard. Placing the spotlight on the insurance companies alone gives me concern.
While looking through the Physicians’ website, medical physicians will be rewarded for being good doctors. What this means is that the government and different private programs can reward doctors for providing high quality healthcare at lower costs. This would give doctors a better reason to provide more care to patients.
Also, hospitals were agreeing to cut about $150 - $170 billion over a decade in administrative cost so as to support the healthcare reform plan. The plan will in return have millions of uninsured patients to buy insurance which would allow for more patients to get the help they need.
It seems that the government is providing a way for doctors and hospitals to be rewarded for just supporting health care reform.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Analysis post
To the readers of my blog, you should be aware of how healthcare reform is taking place in America as well as other key points about how it affects this country. To people who are first reading about my blog, this analysis post will further explain what I have written in my blogs about healthcare and touch on other important issues on healthcare I have not yet wrote about in my blog.
According to my first blog I started off defining healthcare. Healthcare is the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession. Healthcare reform is the innovation and improvement of the healthcare system by reappraisal, amendment of services, and removal of faults and abuses in providing health services. The definition of healthcare also relays that in order for a society to function well, healthcare is an important issue.
The United States is one of the worst in the world in healthcare reform even though it is one of the richest countries in the world. In average, Americans spend 1/6 of their money on the healthcare system. However, they are not getting the appropriate service for their money. Some people still die from diseases that whether they pay money or not will not affect the outcome. Also, many people cannot afford the proper medical expenses. 600,000 people every year file for bankruptcy because they cannot pay off their medical expenses.
To start off talking about healthcare, I evaluated the political view and plans for healthcare reform. President Obama plans to create a government sponsored healthcare program in order to provide more people with insurance policies and help fight the current healthcare problem.
Although Obama’s plan to help fix the healthcare crisis, some people do not fully agree with the overall plans. The Republicans seem to disagree on the points of Obama’s plan. They believe that a government sponsored organization that gives everyone insurance would take away customers from private insurance companies which they believe may hurt the economy. Also, in order for Obama to pay for this program he would have to raise taxes on the American citizens. The cost for this government program could affect the economic situation. Another group who doesn’t agree is the private insurance companies. Some private insurance companies believe that Obama’s plan will take away money and customers from their company. However not all private insurance companies think this way. Some insurance companies support Obama’s plan.
While the government is trying to plan and fix the current healthcare situation, people are still suffering from the current problems of the healthcare system. Millions of people cannot afford the healthcare they need. And to make matters worse, insurance companies are still increasing their prices. Also, hospital emergency rooms are decreasing because of the number of emergency visits. The amounts of emergency visits were 120 million a year in 2006, up from 90 million ten years earlier. These emergency visits have increased even more this year.
The healthcare problem obviously affects most American citizens. But who does it also affect? It turns out the doctors and physicians are also being affected by the healthcare crisis. Medical physicians will be rewarded for being good doctors. What this means is that the government and different private programs can reward doctors for providing high quality healthcare at lower costs. Hospitals can be rewarded for lowering medical costs in support of the reform. It shows how hospitals have helped the reform effort.
Even though that much of the United States are affected by the reform, some may not feel anything. Senior citizens as well as people who already have medical insurance do not have to worry much about the healthcare system. Senior citizens will be least affected because they have had insurance for most of their lives and it will not change based on the ideals of the reform. People who already have medical insurance can still have the same insurance.
As one can see healthcare affects many aspects of people’s lives. Healthcare reform needs to take place in order to help those individuals who are not able to get the medical coverage they need.
According to my first blog I started off defining healthcare. Healthcare is the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession. Healthcare reform is the innovation and improvement of the healthcare system by reappraisal, amendment of services, and removal of faults and abuses in providing health services. The definition of healthcare also relays that in order for a society to function well, healthcare is an important issue.
The United States is one of the worst in the world in healthcare reform even though it is one of the richest countries in the world. In average, Americans spend 1/6 of their money on the healthcare system. However, they are not getting the appropriate service for their money. Some people still die from diseases that whether they pay money or not will not affect the outcome. Also, many people cannot afford the proper medical expenses. 600,000 people every year file for bankruptcy because they cannot pay off their medical expenses.
To start off talking about healthcare, I evaluated the political view and plans for healthcare reform. President Obama plans to create a government sponsored healthcare program in order to provide more people with insurance policies and help fight the current healthcare problem.
Although Obama’s plan to help fix the healthcare crisis, some people do not fully agree with the overall plans. The Republicans seem to disagree on the points of Obama’s plan. They believe that a government sponsored organization that gives everyone insurance would take away customers from private insurance companies which they believe may hurt the economy. Also, in order for Obama to pay for this program he would have to raise taxes on the American citizens. The cost for this government program could affect the economic situation. Another group who doesn’t agree is the private insurance companies. Some private insurance companies believe that Obama’s plan will take away money and customers from their company. However not all private insurance companies think this way. Some insurance companies support Obama’s plan.
While the government is trying to plan and fix the current healthcare situation, people are still suffering from the current problems of the healthcare system. Millions of people cannot afford the healthcare they need. And to make matters worse, insurance companies are still increasing their prices. Also, hospital emergency rooms are decreasing because of the number of emergency visits. The amounts of emergency visits were 120 million a year in 2006, up from 90 million ten years earlier. These emergency visits have increased even more this year.
The healthcare problem obviously affects most American citizens. But who does it also affect? It turns out the doctors and physicians are also being affected by the healthcare crisis. Medical physicians will be rewarded for being good doctors. What this means is that the government and different private programs can reward doctors for providing high quality healthcare at lower costs. Hospitals can be rewarded for lowering medical costs in support of the reform. It shows how hospitals have helped the reform effort.
Even though that much of the United States are affected by the reform, some may not feel anything. Senior citizens as well as people who already have medical insurance do not have to worry much about the healthcare system. Senior citizens will be least affected because they have had insurance for most of their lives and it will not change based on the ideals of the reform. People who already have medical insurance can still have the same insurance.
As one can see healthcare affects many aspects of people’s lives. Healthcare reform needs to take place in order to help those individuals who are not able to get the medical coverage they need.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Probelms right now
The government is still trying to figure out the best solution to improve the healthcare system in the United States. However, the plans are just in their early stages and may take years before they even start to make any sort of impact. But what about the healthcare for people right now? Many people have family members in the hospital and do not have the adequate money or resources to help them. When it comes to healthcare there are many things that need to be reformed.
According to CNN.com, the top problem of healthcare in the United States is the cost of medical insurance for American citizens. The amount of people who do not own any health insurance are in the millions (25 million people to be exact). Also, not everybody that does earn healthcare insurance are fully covered for all medical purposes. In the list of the top different healthcare reforms across the world, the United States ranks in the bottom. Americans insurance are too expensive and they are not getting enough coverage for their money.
The money that American citizens pay for health coverage, the health system is not giving them enough in return. Since the United States is one of the richest countries in the world they should be able to uphold a great healthcare system. However, this is not the case. In fact it is close to the opposite. The United States are not able to help those in need enough so that the money people spend on the services are not worth it. The healthcare system does not have the adequate resources to fully help everyone regardless of the money they spend.
According to CNN.com, the top problem of healthcare in the United States is the cost of medical insurance for American citizens. The amount of people who do not own any health insurance are in the millions (25 million people to be exact). Also, not everybody that does earn healthcare insurance are fully covered for all medical purposes. In the list of the top different healthcare reforms across the world, the United States ranks in the bottom. Americans insurance are too expensive and they are not getting enough coverage for their money.
The money that American citizens pay for health coverage, the health system is not giving them enough in return. Since the United States is one of the richest countries in the world they should be able to uphold a great healthcare system. However, this is not the case. In fact it is close to the opposite. The United States are not able to help those in need enough so that the money people spend on the services are not worth it. The healthcare system does not have the adequate resources to fully help everyone regardless of the money they spend.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Republicans vs Obama
In my last blog, I evaluated the preparation of a new government sponsored health insurance program. The plan, which was induced by President Obama, is to help give more Americans healthcare coverage. This insurance program goal is to allow those who do not have the money to buy proper health insurance that they can still be covered. However, there are differences of opinions in the government about this plan. The Republicans believe that the new plan may take away the healthcare businesses from private healthcare companies because this new program would be much cheaper. In order for healthcare to be reformed, these different arguments have to be solved.
The argument on healthcare is whether a government sponsored program is the right action in reforming healthcare and whether taxes are the best way to pay for this program. The Republicans believe that government program is not necessary. They want to be able to have private insurance companies lower their rates for proper insurance. This would not only give more people insurance policies but allow for companies to compete with each other which would help the economy. However, this idea may be too unrealistic. It would be quite difficult to get major insurance companies to drop their prices. Also, there is no guarantee that healthcare insurance would get better. But looking at Obama’s plan, it will at least provide a means for all people to obtain some type of insurance and medical policy. Although it may take away some business from private insurance companies, it will not affect them enough to where they are in trouble. An insurance policy for any type of person seems like a good idea to me.
The argument on healthcare is whether a government sponsored program is the right action in reforming healthcare and whether taxes are the best way to pay for this program. The Republicans believe that government program is not necessary. They want to be able to have private insurance companies lower their rates for proper insurance. This would not only give more people insurance policies but allow for companies to compete with each other which would help the economy. However, this idea may be too unrealistic. It would be quite difficult to get major insurance companies to drop their prices. Also, there is no guarantee that healthcare insurance would get better. But looking at Obama’s plan, it will at least provide a means for all people to obtain some type of insurance and medical policy. Although it may take away some business from private insurance companies, it will not affect them enough to where they are in trouble. An insurance policy for any type of person seems like a good idea to me.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Plan for health reform so far.....
It is good chance that five years from now, people will not have the same healthcare policy of insurance as they do right now. So what is going on? Many Americans are starting to lose their health coverage in this present economic crisis. According to CNN.com, one major reason for this crisis has to do with the insurance of employees. Many employers have stopped offering insurance to employees because of how much it cost and the current economy. The government, under orders of President Obama, is trying to change the health care system to allow people to have more coverage.
President Obama is continually involved in reshaping the healthcare system so more Americans can have health coverage. His central plan is to create government sponsored health insurance program. It would be an option to the American people, in case they cannot afford medical insurance. Also, President Obama plans to investigate and crack down on the abuses and fraud schemes of Medicaid and Medicare. In order to finically pay for his plan, the president plans to reduce tax deductions on high income Americans. Like the rich giving to the poor.
However, the Republicans do not really agree with this central plan. They argue that employers may no longer use private insurance companies but instead use the government sponsored health insurance because it is much cheaper. This would cause healthcare to be in more chaos.
The plan of a new government sponsored healthcare program seems like a good way to get everybody health insurance but it seems that the plan may need some fine tuning before it can be approved.
President Obama is continually involved in reshaping the healthcare system so more Americans can have health coverage. His central plan is to create government sponsored health insurance program. It would be an option to the American people, in case they cannot afford medical insurance. Also, President Obama plans to investigate and crack down on the abuses and fraud schemes of Medicaid and Medicare. In order to finically pay for his plan, the president plans to reduce tax deductions on high income Americans. Like the rich giving to the poor.
However, the Republicans do not really agree with this central plan. They argue that employers may no longer use private insurance companies but instead use the government sponsored health insurance because it is much cheaper. This would cause healthcare to be in more chaos.
The plan of a new government sponsored healthcare program seems like a good way to get everybody health insurance but it seems that the plan may need some fine tuning before it can be approved.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Introduction to a hope of improvement
A child becomes very sick due to cancer. He is transported to a hospital for treatment. His mother however does not have the insurance to cover the costs for his treatment. She works hard day and night to try to pay off the expenses but it is not enough. The child eventually dies from cancer. In our current economy, many Americans cannot get the right amount of health care because of its costs and the lack of resources to provide enough care. The citizens of the United States are in desperate need of health reform. We need to improve the wellness and health of our nation because too many people are falling ill and dying from matters that can be prevented with the right initiatives and treatment. For reform to happen, the government needs to help.
As I continue writing these blogs, I will explore how healthcare is affect the citizens of America and the plans and actions the government uses to improve health in the United States. I will talk about how Americans can avoid being due to lack of health practices. I also will talk about ways people can help change the health system and live healthier lives. I am a student at a university who is majoring in Biology. Although I am a novice at the issues of health care reform, I believe it is an important that needs to be improved. Health reform needs to take place in America in order to improve the lives for many citizens.
As I continue writing these blogs, I will explore how healthcare is affect the citizens of America and the plans and actions the government uses to improve health in the United States. I will talk about how Americans can avoid being due to lack of health practices. I also will talk about ways people can help change the health system and live healthier lives. I am a student at a university who is majoring in Biology. Although I am a novice at the issues of health care reform, I believe it is an important that needs to be improved. Health reform needs to take place in America in order to improve the lives for many citizens.
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