Mar
31
Blog Post #12 Andrew Chen
March 31, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Prior to the assigned reading, I hadn’t given Obama’s Affordable Care Act much thought, as it did not apply to me. Under the health insurance of both my mother and father, my siblings and I are covered under city and state plans. I found that it was very interesting to see the breakdown of demographics that the New York Times provides to show who benefited from the Affordable Care Act. Looking at the overlay of the United States, much of the South ranging from Texas to Florida remains 16% uninsured, a drop from the prevalent low twenty figures from the year before. It’s noted that people between the age 18 and 34, blacks, Hispanics, and rural inhabitants benefited most from the act.
The personal anecdotes provided by individuals in the New York Times demonstrate that the Affordable Care Act isn’t for everyone. While some single individuals were able to make the monthly payments due to the subsidized costs, working parents with many children couldn’t fit the already subsidized costs into their budget. With the government telling people to buy insurance, it’s creating a “captive market.. [where] the insurers are going to charge what the market can bear and keep pushing the envelope until it collapses.” Still, others are complaining about the tedious and glitchy process to sign up for health insurance, which tires the people. For those who are not willing to comply and accommodate to the specific plans, signing up for health care may be a struggle.
But some those who did sign up for health insurance did end up changing their lives for the better. After one couple compared it to rushing to an all-you-can-eat buffet, and another woman saying it allowed for her rectal cancer to be discovered and treated, health insurance saved many. Those who were refused health insurance in the past because of a pre-existing condition were now able to get health insurance, and get available treatment. Others feel that they don’t want the government to tell them what to do, and that health insurance is a choice. And others yet are still not eligible for healthcare, because they make too little (as subsidies are available for those above the poverty level).
The Affordable Care Act was primarily intended to reduce the number of people who weren’t covered by health insurance. When looking at this fact, it’s safe to say the the Affordable Care Act served one of its purposes, reducing those who were uninsured by 25%, roughly eight to eleven million. But what does this mean in terms of government spending? Expenses are bound to go up as there will be a need for more doctors, more prescriptions, and more services. Healthcare cost may have been subsidized for many Americans, but the costs for hospitals and doctors will continue to increase due to the increasing number of people who are signing up for healthcare and ensuring their well-being.
For members of Congress, I find it interesting to note that the Affordable Care Act does not require them to enroll in the government’s plan. However, government contribution to their insurance plan will be cut off if they choose another policy, which gives incentive to go for ObamaCare. So if they wanted to keep the government contribution, they are tied down and subtly encourage to refrain from individual policies, which calls into issue that the Affordable Care Act does not help everyone.
