The Parmentier
Health Care Law to Cause Drastic ChangesThursday, May 31, 2012 By Marianys Marte, Staff Reporter
When you go to the doctor, your parent or guardian hands in your health insurance card that covers your medical needs. That little card covers your physical exams, injections and surgeries among many other things. If you didn’t have Medicaid, HealthPlus, Fidelis, GHI, or any other kind of health insurance, your parents would have to pay hundreds of dollars for a visit to the doctor and thousands for an operation. That is why President Barack Obama created the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which has been labeled by critics “ObamaCare.” The act was passed by Congress on March 21, 2010, and signed into federal law by the president himself that March 23. President Obama created this health care bill to make sure that every American citizen has government-approved health insurance. The bill was controversial because the Supreme Court is considering whether it is constitutional or not. The act was created to address the issues of obesity, prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses, payment issues, among other things. President Obama proposed the law as a way to reform the health care system in the United States. When he was first introducing the act to Congress, President Obama outlined his goals for the new health care program. He specifically addressed electronic record keeping, preventing expensive conditions, reducing obesity, and reducing defensive medicine. The price for health care is a very important aspect in the act. President Obama wants to make sure that the people of America are taken care of. Junior Kayla Quiles is in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, saying, “I think it is a good idea because not everyone has health insurance so with “ObamaCare” those who couldn’t afford it can get it for an affordable price.” Even if “ObamaCare” is affordable what if some people still can’t afford it? [Brooklyn native Coralia Tineo says], “I think [the health care bill] is a good idea but I don’t think it’s fair that those who don’t have it need to pay a fine. The penalty makes us feel obligated to have ‘ObamaCare’ and some people might be bothered by that.” Stay tuned to the news when the Supreme Court will make its final decision on President Obama’s health care reform bill at the end of June. The Supreme Court’s decision could not only affect your health insurance but the health insurance of future generations. The health care system in the United States will change if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. |