America was promised by Republicans that they would fight the health care reform. With November elections imminent, the GOP believes the public is on their side. It appears nobody can decide on the medical care law. It is getting more opposition now. Americans don’t know what the health care law entails either. Republicans are hoping that they can use this to their advantage. Republicans can’t stop the president from vetoing things, even if they have majority in congress. Plus, the first provisions of health care reform just kicked in Sept. 23. People may realize how nice it truly is to have pre-existing conditions covered and free preventive care.
Pledging in American politics
GOP’s vow is probably just an attack line as it plans to repeal the medical care reform as part of its Pledge to America. Derek Thompson at the Atlantic said it’s doubtful Republicans will take the Senate. Even if they do, Obama will veto anything that weakens health care reform. Thompson writes that even if the GOP succeeded in repealing a part of the bill that bothers them most–requiring every person to have health insurance–it will backfire. People won’t get insurance until they need it, and then they have pre-existing conditions businesses can’t reject them for. Insurance businesses would only have one option then. Rates will have to go even higher. the Medicaid expansion isn’t going to be defunded. If it does, millions will lose health care. Reversing the cuts for Medicare will mean millions of Americans will not get the health care that cash was being saved for.
Public ignorance fuels opposition to health care reform
Some polls have emboldened Republicans for making the promise of repeal. Rasmussen Report did a survey of United States voters. Only 61 percent “somewhat” favor repeal. That’s the highest level of opposition measured since late May. The public does not know what it going on, as outlined by Kavita Pavel at CNN. She cites a recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in which only 14 percent knew the law’s first set of patient protections began Sept. 23. Free preventive care was something only half even knew was part of the health care reform. Even less could identify any of the law’s protections that went into effect September 23. 25 percent of Americans thought that their health care would be decided by a government panel according to an Associated Press poll, says Kavita.
Honest discussion about health care reform unlikely
Republicans say health care reform is fiscally irresponsible. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that health care will cost two-thirds more than it does now by 2019–with or without health care reform. USA Today reports that when the law in its present form isn’t really projected to curb spending, it does end insurance business abuses. Also, 32.5 million individuals a year can be able to be covered by medical insurance. USA Today said what health care reform needs is more solutions to keep health care costs from rising at unsustainable rates. An honest discussion would need to be had between Republicans and Democrats. This would be about the health care reform. That has never happened before. I do not know why it would happen now.
Further reading
The Atlantic
theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/09/is-repealing-health-care-reform-the-next-big-debate/63504/
CNN
cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/24/patel.health.care.repeal/index.html?npt=NP1
USA Today
usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-09-13-editorial13_ST_N.htm
