In recent months, the topic of health care reform has dominated the airwaves. There have been heated debates taking place on both sides of the issue. The arguments presented by each side can often be confusing. In order to better understand the various health insurance reform arguments, the following is a summary of the pros and cons of health insurance reform.
Health Insurance Reform Pros
- You cannot be dropped from your insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
- Insurance companies will now have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
- Insurance companies cannot drop you if you are gravely ill.
- Insurance companies will now be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
- Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through to the age of 26.
- Insurance companies will have to cover routine checkups and preventive care.
- Insurance companies will be mandated to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full.
- You can keep your existing health insurance plan.
- Doctors will spend more time with patients rather than on the phone with insurance companies.
- Health insurance reform will lower senior’s drug costs, lower premiums, improve access to health care providers, making long term health care affordable, and focus more time on patient care
- Reforming the physician payment system will improve quality and efficiency
- Health insurance reform will ensure people will no longer go bankrupt and lose their homes.
- The country will be much healthier because more people will get check ups and diseases in their early stages will be detected. This will also save money on expensive treatments because diseases will be detected earlier and treated sooner.
Health Insurance Reform Cons
- The cost to implement health insurance reform is going to be very expensive. Many people are worried about an increase in taxes.
- People may be fined if they don’t sign up for a health insurance plan.
- People are worried about deep cuts to Medicaid
- Many people worry that their employer will drop their current health insurance plan
- A government-run health care program may not be efficient.
- Healthy people will pay for coverage they do not use.
- Doctors may have their fees cuts for some services
- There will be a doctor shortage because of the 40 million or so more people with health insurance. There may be a delay in getting medical treatment.
- Private health care insurer premiums may increase.
- In the future, there may eventually be a take over of Government run heath care. Many people feel that the Government should not be involved in health care insurance.
Health insurance reform is a serious issue that will affect everyone. It is important to cut through the political spin and learn the facts on both sides of the issue. One important fact that everyone should be aware of is that some form of health insurance reform is needed.