Eldridge 1 Nicholas Eldridge October 31, 2013 English 112-46 Ms.

Melissa Mohlere Healthcare Reform There are plenty of good arguments for initiating legislation to modernize health benefits for all Americans who struggle to afford proper medical coverage. It may take years of continuing reform or tweaking to make this plan for regulation work for everyone- but it is a beginning and it IS also the law. Reform has been needed and debated for decades. When deciding your argument for or against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) a review of the best known fact is; "ObamaCare doesn't create health insurance, it regulates the health insurance industry and helps to increase quality, affordability and availability of private insurance."(ObamaCare Facts) There are many pros and cons related to the elements of provisions made by the reform. Everybody has a different set of circumstances regarding age, general health and income criteria. I am twenty-two years old, a veteran and a full-time uninsured, unemployed student. This puts me in a category of dire need for affordable or free medical treatment, however, I may qualify for benefits/coverage from the Veterans Administration. I really identify with low income citizens who also cannot afford expensive medical costs or charges. The major drawback for adding security and good coverage is the staggering estimated cost to taxpayers for these benefits. "The ACA is projected to cost $1.1 trillion dollars over the

Eldridge 2 next ten years."(ObamaCare Facts) All of us will have to pay for these programs to be made functional and viable in the private sector. However, the spending is projected to create a $200 billion dollar reduction of the deficit over the next decade. Clearly it's a choice between budgeting or bandaging wounds. If people can't get affordable health care when they need it, eventually the cost for those individuals who develop far more serious conditions will create more of a financial burden on everyone. This has been the political "merry-go-round" for far too long. An added element of proper care in this provision is the wellness and preventative services. These services alone could prove to be some of the most beneficial and cost preventative measures. These procedures can bring about early detection and prevention of very costly and often contagious conditions in the population. Wellness physicals, injections, and recommended tests are all valuable tools in medical treatment. Many illnesses or conditions cost employers expensive loss of man hours and lack of preventative medicine can lead to widespread exposure in the workplace and in schools. I think it will increase awareness and create more responsibility if people have and use a tool like "direct access." Using these modern tools and preventative measures, we can prevent unnecessary exposure to our "at risk" population. Part of the panic that most of the population feels is related to upward and downward swings in the economy. The struggle to budget and maintain a quality of life has been a rollercoaster ride for a lot of individuals. Major changes in something as important as their insurance creates doubts and fears. Change frightens a lot of people right now. But, we have to always remember the ones who are without. An added and much needed feature of this plan is to install 159 new boards, agencies and programs to oversee spending and ensure proper procedures prevail. It's important for us to remember that our healthcare is still between us and our doctor and still is determined by our

Eldridge 3 private insurance provider. An "oversight" committee just ensures that the program is working properly. The phrase "regulate" not "ration" is applicable. "There are now more Americans age 65 and older than at any other time in U.S. history."(Brandon) As we age, we develop the need for more medical treatment for a number of age related conditions. This plan will eventually help to reduce costs for prescription drugs by closing the "donut hole" gap. By the year 2020 it may be possible for senior citizens to pay a standard 25% for all necessary meds. (Boes) In my opinion, there is a specific category of healthcare provisions included in the overall package plan that is highly controversial. This involves requiring men to pay for maternity care in their premiums. Another debatable topic is contraception and whether or not the ACA should govern decisions concerning it. Common sense dictates that a man-some man played a key role, in the initial process anyway, regarding the need for medical treatment for a pregnancy. We all allow and support the factors of a permissive media and sometimes permissive society while the impact or impression becomes sensationalism and glorification of the human body. That makes all of us a little responsible for less than ideal circumstances in regard to some pregnancies. Unwanted pregnancies also bring up another controversial issue. Maybe the number of unwanted pregnancies or unmarried women having children in this country is putting too much of a burden on other benefits programs providing coverage. Some of these programs may include WIC, Medicaid, and food stamps. The average taxpayer, men included, already pays for these programs. In this technological age, we are all aware of how complicated and yet innovative the information networks proceed. We rely daily on having access to instant, unlimited information.

Eldridge 4 In our careers, our studies and our hobbies we shop and compare and make more decisions for ourselves than we ever have before. Maybe it is time for insurance to "come of age" and become something we shop for from a "network" of possibilities. It's going to take time and patience for this program to reach its full potential and best provision performance level. "There's a lot of misinformation going around about who needs to offer coverage, who is going to account for the penalty, how the penalty is going to intertwine with the exchanges. Part of that is because it's all unfolding so quickly. Part of it is the technical nature of the law." It will be important to stay informed of the law and the changes as they develop and unfold. "This is an evolving process." (Journal of Financial Planning) I feel the biggest misconception people may have is that they don't understand that they can't be turned down for insurance-regardless of their health condition or pre-existing health issues. "Your health insurance premiums will not be based on how healthy or unhealthy you are."(Journal of Financial Planning) In summation, I as an individual want to believe that this "work in progress" will become an organized, comprehensive tool that we can all trust and rely on. I truly believe that people can and will be willing to get the right information and education. We should consider this program in the same manner as we do our income tax and our right and responsibility to vote. You do have to make responsible decisions. You do have to keep accurate records or have someone keep them for you. You are expected to provide your fair share of fees based on your income or ability to pay for any benefit. This is the law. There will always be people that break laws or abuse benefits. I guess, ultimately, we all have to decide how much integrity we have.

Eldridge 5 Works Cited Boes, Lynn. "Affordable Care Act." The Iowa Nurse Reporter (2013): 4-24. NC Live. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Brandon, Emily. "65 and Older Population Soars." US News. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2012/01/09/65-and-olderpopulation-soars>. "Pros and Cons." ObamaCare Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013. <http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-pros-and-cons.php>. "What You Need to Know about the Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Exchanges." Journal of Financial Planning (2013): 22-28. NC Live. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. <http://www.FPAnet.org/Journal>.