The What if Question…

After months of speculation, debate, and angry as hell citizens, the fate of the health care reform bill remains unknown and the question remains what if it is not passed, will there be reform or will all just be a bad dream. Well it is pretty clear how determine President Obama is in passing some sort of health care reform but passing none is not an option. Well what if the proposed plan by the administration is not passed, it is clear that there will be some sort of reform but what will it include. Although the two sides have been in a fierce debate about public option, co-ops, etc. there does exist a compromise between the two parties on needs that should and will be addressed. So if the health care reform that President Obama seeks to accomplish does not succeed these are the reforms that we can count on…

First of all, insurers are going to face up to new laws that primarily deal with who they cover and the limits that they put on that coverage. In several of Obama’s speeches, he often includes a story of people that either ran out of benefits or that they have been denied coverage over pre-existing conditions. So it is for certain that the government will pass stricter laws on insurers that will not allow them to deny you coverage because of pre-existing conditions or cancel your coverage. Also, the government will definitely try to have equal premium rates between women and men and also limit how much insurers can charge the elderly as compared with the young.

A second idea that is sure to be passed and/or included in the bill is the creation of a market that will force insurers to compete with each other. By making the market more competitive, it would allow consumers to compare pricing and figures that will then allow for premium rates to decrease. Obama did mention this in his address to congress earlier this month, with the intent to provide choices to the American people. Both parties have stated their concern over the inflation in premiums over the past several decades and by establishing a competitive market of insurers, they will be able to address this problem. At the current time, hardly any competition exists in the health care market. For example, in both Iowa and Alabama one insurance company is controlling over 70% of the entire insurance market therefore not allowing much choice in pricing in these states.

The general goal of the most basic health care reform bill will included a plan to expand coverage. But one big BUT will be to what extent will it expand insurance coverage. This can range from public option to financial subsidies to mainly those that cannot afford to buy their own health care. So let the bickering and heckling continue but issues will be addressed and reform will happen but to what extent is still up in the air.