To all those I know who are conservative, Republican, watch Fox News, or are concerned about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the real name of what is called “Obamacare”). I am curious about what parts you don’t like. Is it the part that you can’t be charged a higher premium for being a woman? Perhaps it is the whole notion of preexisting conditions? I mean God forbid someone who was cured of cancer nearly 20 years ago has health insurance now. Maybe it was because it comes from a democratic president? Funny, the framework is from republican ideas. Perhaps you dislike any notion of public healthcare? Then don’t ever file for Medicare. Perhaps you hate disease research funding? Guess how most vaccinations were developed. Maybe it is the fact that insurance companies are required to spend 85% of premiums on benefits instead overhead costs such as lavish building fixtures and shareholder payouts? Perhaps you think deductibles should be limitless. Perhaps you dislike the idea of the insurance exchanges. I thought competition among businesses was something republicans love. Perhaps it is the idea of being compelled to buy insurance. Do you drive? I know what your thinking. You might be saying, “If I don’t drive or own a car then I don’t need it.” I do understand that point but bear with me for a moment. How would you feel if emergency rooms started turning away people because they do not have insurance. I would think that you feel it would be callous and disingenuous. Next you cannot help but participate in healthcare market. Those who need it will get care and the mandate to buy is simply the most affordable option for everyone. The more people who buy insurance the lower overall cost due to the shared burden. It is simple economics. I know part of the reason people dislike is because they hate change. I understand change isn’t easy, bit when something is broken and a way to improve it has been found, it is flat out stupid to go back to the old broken system. Find a better one first. No system will ever be perfect, but that is no excuse to not improve it. I personally think we can do even better! Did you know that the United States is the only major industrialized nation that does not make sure it citizens have healthcare. Only in America can one become bankrupted for the rest of their lives due to an illness. This is a reason why I am for single payer healthcare. We need to take corporations out of the healthcare equation. Canada and France both have excellent healthcare systems and function well with government operated insurance and private practitioners. Before you state that we have better healthcare outcomes, guess again. They are in the top ten in overall heath outcomes. Guess where the United States is. Our rank is 37th in the world. Does that sound like the best healthcare in the world to you? I welcome any well-thought and respectful discussion on the subject. As for me I have read and studied the entire act in full including revisions (yes, the full 1000 plus pages) and know it better then most. If you choose to comment, keep it respectful. This goes for people on both sides of the issue.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:10:56 +0000