Argumentative Essay: Do We Need Health Insurance?

Employers are able to get a tax break for offering health coverage to their employees

Adults, 65 years old and older and people with disabilities are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Physician services and hospitalizations are covered by medicare. An additional supplemental program may be purchased to cover prescription drugs. Low income families and children may qualify for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid has significantly lower copays and out of pocket expenses compared to private insurance. Unemployed individuals may qualify for Medicaid depending on the state.

Unlike the middle and poor classes, higher income earners are expected to pay greater sums of money as taxpayers to cover the expenses of treating poorer people. The number of services provided based on this increased payment is greater than what those covered previously received, though the services do not always meet the needs of the persons insured and rarely corresponds directly to the payment made by wealthier taxpayers. For example, the premium for people who are considered living beyond the poverty line is no more than 9.5% of their monthly income (Dunn 70).

One of the cons of the PPACA could be the tax penalty for not carrying insurance coverage. The penalty starts at $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greatest. If the family or individual still chooses not to carry insurance, the penalty will rise each year. It doesn’t seem fair to make people choose between carrying medical coverage or getting penalized for not wanting health care

The term “individual mandate,” as a component of the Affordable Care Act, is a mandatory requirement according to which the majority of people in the United States has to have some kind of health insurance. Most specifically, according to the fundamentals of this regulation, any individual who can afford a health insurance policy, but chooses not to do so, will have to pay a fine. Prior to the existence of the individual mandate, health insurance companies had the choice to reject people with health conditions that would potentially incur high costs. Because of this reason, a significant number of people did not have any health coverage. In order to maintain insurance premiums reasonably steady and sustain government cost balanced,

Hence, these people will continue suffering when sick and will jeopardize their health that’s lead to death. It is ridiculous, that some of the state’s governors have to opt out because the federal government covers the majority of the health care cost; it’s the taxes that the citizens are paying, regardless of if the state opted in or out the plan. If a governor opts out, it means that he or she will be walking away from billion or millions of money that could have helped the citizens, thus leaving some the citizens without health care. Citizens with incomes that are above the federal poverty line will be eligible for the tax credits from the government for them to get insured, but the people who are below the poverty line would be the state’s responsibility.

The ACA also introduced certain incentives for applying for insurance such as subsidies as well as mandates that penalized those who refused health insurance with a tax. However, for those individuals who would see at least 8% of their income go towards insurance, are exempt from the penalty. The law requires insurance providers to accept any applicants and prohibits discrimination from preexisting conditions or sex. It also requires that insurers provide all patients with ten essential health benefits. Provisions also prevent insurers from subjecting preventive care and vaccinations and to co-payments. Annual and lifetime coverage caps on the aforementioned essential benefits were also banned by the ACA. The Centre for Disease Control reported a steep drop from 16% to 8.9% in individuals lacking health insurance from 2010 to 2016. States that chose to expand Medicaid had roughly a 7% uninsured rate compared to those that did not expand. Despite the positive effect of the ACA, it is not without its demerits, Conservatives in particular took offense at the increase in both taxes and insurance premiums needed to expand coverage to those with prior conditions as well as benefits. Several new taxes help provide funding for Obamacare such as those on pharmaceutical sales, as well as the higher income bracket. Thus there is opposition with the fact that the wealthy are in part subsidizing insurance for the poor.

It is language that is used as a blanket with the intention to conceal or prevent thought (Lutz). Obama care also has some downfalls; Such as the tax penalties, regulations, and its effect on health care professionals within the hospitals and clinic (DeMichelle) many Americans fall within the category where the affordable care act is helpful in getting them state aid, but others are in a category in the middle where they make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford health insurance, even with the discounted rate the reform act brings. The individuals who do not sign up and receive health insurance will be fined at the end of the year when they file for taxes. This is a problem for those individuals who fall in that in between category of not being able to afford a monthly insurance rate, and are penalized at the end of the year for it. Along with the fee that the individuals who remain uninsured have to pay there are other tax fees that are paid by all tax paying citizens in order to support the healthcare reform and the increasing number of American receiving Medicaid.

The first main issue that people are concerned with, and that causes confusion, is what will happen to people if they do not get their own health insurance by the time the Act takes effect. In short, they will be fined or penalized (McDonough, 2011). This penalty is seen as

Obamacare has drastically raised health care costs for individuals and families. One of the reasons Obamacare was established was to reduce family premiums by $2,500 a year (Anderson 1). However, this goal has not been accomplished yet, the typical family premiums are increasing at rapid rates (Anderson 2). From 2015-2016, Family Silver, one of the most popular family insurance plans, had a ten percent increase on their premiums price. Some states even rose by forty percent (Furchtgott-Roth 3). Middle class families cannot keep paying an arm and a leg for health insurance. Health insurance should not be a major issue for Americans, it should be

The only way to be exempted and to be eligible for the tax credit is to purchase health insurance from the market place or obtaining it from your employer.

After having watched the Sicko documentary, it is corrupt how American citizens must be tied to health insurance companies who really do not care for your health rather for your money. To avoid the tax penalty fee you are required to at least obtain a minimum essential coverage, but the complicated idea behind this is that it must be either employer-sponsored, purchased in the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, veterans health coverage through the Veterans Administration, TRICARE, and so forth. By the way, veterans do not even get adequate medical coverage despite their service involving risking their lives for our safety and who are subjected to mental health problems like post-traumatic stress and many other physical ailments due to the pressures of fighting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr1zMBN0g0w Short term health plans, fixed benefit plans, supplemental medicare, vision only, dental only, and limited benefit plans do not qualify as minimum essential coverage. The tax penalty fee for not obtaining health insurance is a yearly fee of $95 for each adult while $47.50 for each child. As I have mentioned I am a republican conservative and I emphasize less government regulation and to me the biggest criticism I have towards this law is that it infringes our natural right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness where the government essentially controls your life as a product.

By March 31, 2014, over 4 million (of uninsured) American were forced to sign up and pay for health insurance in order to avoid a tax penalty under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If people don’t have health coverage, on next year’s tax return, they will have to pay $95 or one percent of their income. There is also a penalty of $47.50 for every uninsured child under the age of 18 with a maximum penalty of $285 per family, and the amount annually increases (Healthcare, 2013). This penalty is intended to ensure that every Americans have health coverage.

In 2014, almost everyone will be required to purchase health insurance or face a $695 annual fine. There are some exceptions for low-income people, but if employers do not offer health insurance, individuals will be required to purchase health care insurance on their own (Wolfe, 2012).

How many college students have extremely thought about health insurance? Attending college is a stressful time for any student. While many students are in college many should not have to worry about paying for their healthcare bills. The Affordable Care Act gives college students more options to find an inexpensive insurance. Many should consider these possible options if they are planning to attend college or seeking for an inexpensive coverage.