Barack Obama

The American health insurance scene desperately needs reform. In a nation where over 15% of the population without health insurance in 2008 and 16% of the product GDP is devoted to health care, everyone agrees that change is necessary. The nature of that change, however, is still in debate. The defender left the a form of single payer to cover all Americans, while champions options of private law, such as savings accounts for health and competition among providers of health care. President Obama frames his plan as a means of approach road that require coverage for all Americans, has a cost affordable, and ensure that coverage can not be denied on the basis of pre existing health conditions. The first aspect of President Obama's plan makes health insurance grew requirement than an option. The reasoning behind this idea is that those who can afford coverage but choose not to put a drain on your system by visiting emergency room for the unexpected injury or illness, and using taxpayer money to cover the cost of the visit. Requiring everyone to buy health insurance could create a larger group to draw funds in order to cover the cost of the comprehensive health care. The fines will be imposed on persons or firms that chose not buy health insurance. Those who can not afford private insurance coverage would have access to a choice of public as well as a tax credit based on need. Critics say the fines imposed on companies is transferred to consumers and that would be equivalent to an increase in taxes paid, not the company but by the customers. They also note that the fines imposed on people who can not or choose not to purchase insurance are the equivalent of a tax on people earning less than $ 250,000 year, not what Obama promised in his campaign. The second objective of the health plan of President Obama is to create an insurance market that provide affordable insurance options and healthy competition. The private insurance companies could participate and the opportunity to acquire new customers would be the incentive to do so and to keep costs down. Opponents of this aspect of the plan claim that private insurance companies could not hope to compete with a choice of government and therefore eventually be expelled business, even with all health care insurance under the umbrella of public choice. Thirdly, President Obama hopes to ensure coverage for all Americans, by eliminating the possibility that insurance companies deny coverage for preexisting health conditions, and eliminate the limits on the amount coverage for life. It would also limit what consumers can be forced to pay out of pocket for care. While many champions of this part of the plan to provide fair and equitable access to health care for all Americans, critics say would remove any incentive for consumers to control their consumption of health care, in turn causing insurance costs to businesses through the roof. Many private companies would be forced into bankruptcy, again putting more health care under government supervision. Undoubtedly, health care in America needs an overhaul. Costs are increasing and people are dying due to lack of coverage. If President Obama's plan will meet the need or not remains to be seen as Congress prepares to debate health.

The Obama Plan in 4 Minutes