American president Barrack Obama on the 10th of September 2009 presented a health care model that sought to overhaul health care in the United States. This was a response to the increased unemployment and the increased premiums charged by the insurance companies. He said that the failing economy was affecting businesses and homeowners and there was a need for decisive action to cut costs and therefore ensure the survival of the Americans by not counting the returns exclusively but putting in the ethical considerations.
The uninsured, according to him, was living an accident away from bankruptcy and can’t either get on-job cover or they are private entrepreneurs who are charged higher premiums than they can afford. Others are denied covers due to their preexisting illnesses hence are considered a bad investment by the insurance companies.
The covered persons experience a potential risk of losing the cover when they change their jobs, become redundant, or migrate. According to him, the best approach is building on what works and fixing what doesn’t. The stakeholders in the care have come together to set up a workable model that will provide more security and stability to those covered; cover to those not covered and which will eventually reduce the health costs.
Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA will retain their customers but serve them better while the preexisting conditions will not be a factor anymore. Checkups will be covered with no additional cost and the quality will be improved at a lower cost. Those not covered will be subjected to the market mechanism of trading cover and will be able to bargain for better prices and quality of cover.
He also said that those who could not afford the cover would get tax credits on a need basis or low-cost coverage. Moreover, individuals will be required to have basic cover and businesses will need to take cover responsibility. However, waivers would be provided for those who cannot afford coverage.
The cover would not be provided for illegal immigrants but would be geared towards accountability and better services. According to Obama, the plan would not lead to more deficits but would be paid for from the existing health care system and the charges on the insurance companies. Medicare funds would not be used in this although the reduction of wastes and inefficiency in them would pay for the plan. Indeed, putting patient safety first should be emphasized thus he called on his health secretary to act on the same.
Basically, his proposed plan would cost about $90 billion per year and he called on the Americans to be united in resolving the health care issue. The health care bill to the congress by Obama did not do much to explain clearly to the public what it entails but rather emphasized the points that would garner its support. It did not meet the expectations of the people that it would address the contentious issues and clear the way for its legislation.