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Health Care Reform: Losing More Than You Think Essay

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President Obama has made healthcare reform a priority since the beginning of his presidency. Obama wants to implement a system similar to Medicare. As defined by Dictionary.com Medicare is: “a U.S. government program of hospitalization insurance and voluntary medical insurance for persons aged 65 and over and for certain disabled persons under 65”. This government based health insurance would still allow private insurance companies to stay in business. Another way Obama wants to change the health insurance companies is to expand coverage and improve the care given. What this means is people with cancer could possibly get health insurance in a case where no one else would cover them. This will also help to lower insurance plan costs. …show more content…

Most likely these results would further become mandates, which would extend to private insurance plans, resulting in further rationing of the nation’s medical care. As stated by Tanner in USA Today Magazine, “We should be moving away from an employment-based system toward one where workers have personal and portable insurance that is not linked to their employer's preference or their employment status. Therefore, an employer mandate actually would represent a step backwards in terms of a more effective and compassionate health policy” (4). Private insurance companies would be required to comply with government regulations, which would include a requirement to insure all applicants regardless of risk. Additionally the government would place a control on pricing premiums because of risk, resulting in the possible demise of the private insurance company. In summarizing the various proposals outlines and statements, Tanner states that, “It initially would not create a government-run, singlepayer system such as in Canada or Britain. Private insurance still would exist, at least for a time, but it would be reduced to little more than a public utility, operating much like, for example, the electric company, with the government regulating and controlling every aspect of its operation” (3). Private insurance would be offered as a choice, but in reality would just be a separate

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