Obamas_Health_Reform

Dianne Hernandez Professor Rodolfo Rivas Eco2013 July 20, 2010 There are many issues revolving around Obama’s “Health Care Plan”. The first and probably most controversial issue is who should receive healthcare' Should you and I be able to receive the same healthcare as a U.S Congressman' That is a very heated topic that will be elaborated on as this paper unfolds. Another very interesting issue that hits close to home is that of healthcare for illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants will, under no circumstance, be allowed to receive healthcare unless they have been here for at least five years. And finally, the last issue on my agenda is that of Abortion and how it will be covered under this new plan. Will this new plan cover an abortion for a rape victim' Or will they simply have to pay out of pocket for this horrible act' These are serious issues surrounding this new plan and I will address their importance and how they affect us all. This new bill will call for universal healthcare where everyone is covered by basic healthcare coverage and no one will be denied care as long as they are legal residents. By 2014, everyone will need to purchase healthcare just like everyone needs to purchase auto insurance now a days. If they fail to purchase healthcare, they will be forced to pay a penalty of $695 per year. The controversy lays in how the care will be administered. Will the same care be available for everyone no matter race, gender or economic and social class' The answer to this question is quite confusing. Everyone (besides illegal immigrants and people with pre-existing conditions) have access to healthcare and will not be refused care if they cannot afford it. Although we are making huge strides in the direction to an almost perfect universal healthcare such as Germany, we still remain off track because service is not being catered to all. A major issue that hits close to home is that of negating healthcare to illegal immigrants. Health care will not be available for illegal immigrants who have recently entered the United States. In order to receive the benefits of Healthcare, the immigrant would have to live in the United States for a minimum of five years. As one web site states, “Immigrants will continue to live and work, get sick and hurt in this country, but will not be able to get health insurance”. (about.com) While there is little help for the majority of illegal immigrants, one bill is being put together that may allow children of illegal immigrants to receive benefits via the new Health Care Plan. This remains a very difficult situation because it will be hard to monitor all the children who would receive the benefits since they are not legally bound to this country. How would you keep track of so many children' This is an on going issue that may take months, if not years to resolve. While most of us are either pro abortion or pro life, this issue seems to follow us wherever there is debate. Recently, President Obama signed and order forbidding federal money to be used for abortion procedures. A recent news article states that, “ abortions will be covered in some new governmental health care programs for people who have been denied insurance because of pre-existing issues” (Remember I stated that along with immigrants, people with pre-existing conditions may be denied healthcare). These governmental health care programs are being scrutinized for assisting in this procedure. Is it wrong to help out a young rape victim who has no insurance and is in need of an abortion' President Obama has commented on this very topic and said that he may make special exceptions for victims of rape. But how would you know if the victim had been raped' After all, this could be a normal teen looking for an easy way out. That is a very touchy subject in this new Health Care Plan. These issues continue to be brought up and revised, as there still are many loop holes in the system. One can only hope that there is resolve in this new Health Care Plan. Although many near by countries have had a well-established health care system in place for some time, it will take exactly that, time, to see if this new concept will grow and flourish within our very own country. This plan will also help us clear out a national debt that estimates to be near thirteen trillion dollars. The new plan will generate approximately six hundred billion dollars a year. The future is bright for America. I guess that’s why the windshield in your car is always bigger than your rear view mirror. You must look on to a bigger and brighter future but must never forget where you came from.