I think it is hard to say whether the Affordable Health Care Act has changed any of the stories from the piece on Sick in America. After watching the two segments from Frontline, I am appalled at the significant difference in healthcare systems around the country. I am disgusted that our healthcare system in America seems to be one of the worst. Hearing that people in our country go bankrupt due to medical costs is very disheartening.
Working in healthcare for many years, I see patients who are uninsured or underinsured on a daily basis. It is difficult to see an elderly individual who pays significant premiums for Medicare, who cannot afford their medications or copays. One of the components to the ACA is to assist seniors with better access to healthcare and affordable prescription coverage. I am encouraged to hear that the ACA plans to close the gap in coverage for medications which is also known as the “donut hole”. This portion of the ACA is encouraging and I think quite possible easier to come to fruition.
My question is how can government say that everyone has access to affordable health coverage? I have visited the website and yes there appear to be plans for individuals with low premiums. However, for a family of four or more, even if the premiums are low, the deductibles are outrageous. The more coverage you wish to purchase the higher the premium. I don’t know how low-income families who don’t meet poverty guidelines or Medicaid criteria can afford the plans that are offered in the healthcare marketplace. My other question is what about those individuals who are unemployed? I see individuals all the time who are adults living with their elderly parents because they are unemployed and cannot afford to live anywhere else. If they are unemployed, they obviously cannot afford health insurance coverage. Also, if they are unemployed and do not file income tax at the end of the year, then how do they get penalized? The website in and of itself is difficult to navigate through for me and I am grad student. How can those with limited education and resources even begin to navigate their way to better health coverage?
The cost for healthcare in America is astounding, especially compared to other countries. Although I am not a huge proponent of a “big brother” type of system, I do believe a universal health plan is not such a bad idea, especially if it does provide fair healthcare for all. I especially liked the idea from one country that if someone abuses the healthcare system, the government visits their home for a “talk”. I see so many people who are non-compliant with their healthcare who abuse Medicare and Medicaid, and no one seems to do anything about that.
Will the ACA be successful in changing healthcare in America? I think it is too soon to tell…
Lee my thoughts after reading your blog are very much the same. It’s frustrating to listen to ACA talk about accessibility and affordability when it comes to healthcare. I expressed ACA maybe accessible but not affordable when a family must come out of their pocket with an additional 2 to 3 hundred dollars a month for healthcare when they can’t consistently put food on their table.I find it amazing five other countries appear to have a better control over their healthcare system and America is suppose to be the most powerful of all nations. How is it a country as Taiwan had enough intelligence to copy their health system from various other countries and have success when America seem to be lost in the mist of the resolve to healthcare. I would pray America seek council and the advice of others instead of talking power and demonstrating none. Healthcare maybe accessible but not affordable in America, at least not this day!
It is appalling to learn about other countries in the world with better and more effective healthcare systems than ours. Allowing the free market to work and “do what it is suppose to do” is one of the reasons why I believe our healthcare system is so dysfunctional. How can you expect a system to work for the common citizen when you have multiple forces working together whose sole motive is money. Healthcare reform isn’t just about giving access to everyone in society, but it is also about bringing healthcare cost down. There was an article in the New York Times that discusses how much it costs just to get to the hospital. The total of a non-life threating simple ambulance came up to over $1000.00. Last year, my mother was taken to the hospital due to having a stroke, by the time she made it to the hospital, she was stabilized and the paramedics actually advised her to check herself into the emergency room, because if they did, her bill would be exceedingly higher. Maybe more government regulation is needed in order to keep the cost of certain procedures down or at least at a fair price. Families should not be going bankrupt or have to make the decision to either pay the cost to receive care for a loved one or to feed the rest of the family. It should not even be a question as to who is allowed to receive healthcare and at what part of their livelihood are they going to give up for it.
It is indeed a problem that states have opted out of the medicaid expansion, as that was the policy element that is the most effective in helping low income people get health insurance. Look at states where it is in place. Good post.
tackling your self from the core, food!!!
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