Friday, December 18, 2009
As Congress continues to inch toward passing comprehensive health insurance reform, there are many misconceptions about the plans details. To be informed citizens, though, we need to know the facts. So, what are the facts that you should know?
First, our health insurance system is broken. Currently, 36 million Americans, including 8 million children, lack health insurance. Not only does this limit health care access to those who are uninsured, but it also results in more than $60 billion annually in uncompensated care costs that are passed on to insured consumers in the form of higher prices and premiums.
Second, health care costs are spiraling out of control. These costs not only threaten family budgets but the federal budget as well. In the next decade government expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid will nearly double, crowding out spending on other important government programs.
Finally, there is widespread dissatisfaction at unethical insurance company practices. There have been too many cases where insurance companies have denied claims and dropped coverage when their customers got sick.
As a result of these problems, congressional leaders have proposed reforms to fix this broken system. This would reduce the number of uninsured by 31 million, would require insurance companies to cover everyone regardless of health or preexisting conditions, would rein in spiraling health care costs by introducing more competition and efficiencies, and would reduce the national debt by $130 billion during the next 10 years.
First, our health insurance system is broken. Currently, 36 million Americans, including 8 million children, lack health insurance. Not only does this limit health care access to those who are uninsured, but it also results in more than $60 billion annually in uncompensated care costs that are passed on to insured consumers in the form of higher prices and premiums.
Second, health care costs are spiraling out of control. These costs not only threaten family budgets but the federal budget as well. In the next decade government expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid will nearly double, crowding out spending on other important government programs.
Finally, there is widespread dissatisfaction at unethical insurance company practices. There have been too many cases where insurance companies have denied claims and dropped coverage when their customers got sick.
As a result of these problems, congressional leaders have proposed reforms to fix this broken system. This would reduce the number of uninsured by 31 million, would require insurance companies to cover everyone regardless of health or preexisting conditions, would rein in spiraling health care costs by introducing more competition and efficiencies, and would reduce the national debt by $130 billion during the next 10 years.
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