Yahoo finance recently asked the question “Obamacare Will Become Reality: What Does it Mean for You?” by Kevin Chupka, November 13, 2012.
The article discusses the Affordable Care Act which I recently discussed on this blog in the article Health Care Should Not Be Framed in the Personal Responsibility Narrative.
The Affordable Care Act of course is widely known as Obamacare as is slanted to go into effect in the U.S. in 2014.
The article from Yahoo Finance article says
“Under Obamacare, states have two key decisions to make: (1) Whether to create state-run exchanges where people can shop for and select their health insurance coverage from an online marketplace, and (2) Whether to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income Americans.”
The article further discusses how pre-existing conditions will need to be covered and how it is quite possible that insurance companies will raise premiums as a result of this.
It is always interesting to see what type of comments come about from articles on Yahoo Finance to see how Americans really feel and their thoughts and opinions.
Saxonmor says
“Health insurance, health insurance; that’s all our gutless leaders want to talk about. How about health CARE reform. My cousin’s dad recently had surgery on his back. The cost with 4 days in the hospital? Over $250,000. That is absurd. Roughly 5 years of middle income wages gone in 4 days? THIS is where reform is needed.”
I agree with Saxonmor’s sentiment. Of course whenever I hear about back surgery I wonder what exactly was performed and if the surgery will be beneficial for the patient. As I have previously discussed in this post Tips to Prevent Medical Errors – AHRQ the U.S. current lacks a
“… independent agency that would fund systematic reviews of the medical literature, as well as clinical trials to test the comparative effectiveness of everything from drugs to treatments”
Other comments on the Yahoo Finance article seem to ask why politicians are on a separate government health plan than average Americans.
ENDO- says
“Welcome to the brave new world of part-time employment. Shared poverty is what we wanted, shared poverty is what we got.”
Just a Man says
“The big thing coming is part time work hours to keep employees under full time hours to qualify for insurance, that’s the reality of Obamacare to gut America even further.”
Forrest says
“Business response to Obamacare: Limit employees to less than 30 hours a week. Problem solved.”
I understand where these users are coming from as I have seen many reports and a Fox News segment earlier this week talking about some businesses trying to put their employees under the 30 hour per week minimum so they don’t have to pay for their health insurance.
Kenneth B says
“I am sure the bureaucrats and politicians will run this as well as the IRS, DMV, post office, schools and highway system.”
I have to say I did have to visit a DMV recently and was in and out quickly and pain free, but I do understand where Kenneth B is coming from as this has been a long time claim.
Judity says
“You can’t have “capitalism” when every single person in your market needs your product. Seeing the medical community and the insurance companies profit from people getting sick and dying is reprehensible. We need Single Payer in America, and the sooner the better.”
MICHAEL says
“Single payer, medicare for all. Cost problem solved. Human healthcare should not be in the realm of insurance companies profits.”
I understand and agree with both of these user’s sentiments. I have discussed this numerous times such as in the post Haggling With Doctors: Lower the Cost of Your Medical Bills.
DoctorS41 says
“I eat organic when possible, walk 4 miles a day, spend anywhere from 500—800 a month on food, supplements, and vitamins of High quality. I am 53 and look 35. My BP is 94/60, my cholesterol is below average, and I don’t smoke or eat fast food at all. Why then am i being offered bare bone medical “benefits” and now being required to purchase such a crap policy, while my counterpart smokes, has preexisting conditions, doesn’t spend anything on his health—except alcohol and fast food?? He’s 53 and looks 63!!! Why am I being penalized for taking care of myself?…”
I understand and agree with DoctorS41’s sentiments. He attempts to be healthy by practicing things such as regular exercise and eating healthy with adequate nutrition. However, at the end of the day your personal ability to manage your health will not and does not always mean you will be healthier than average. Accidents can happen and many things are outside of one’s personal control. For example numerous cooperations work behind the scenes to attempt to change people’s thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors see for example Astroturfing And How Your Thoughts Are Being Manipulated by Corporate Interests.
At the end of the days most of the arguments I am seeing are similar arguments I have seen for years when it comes to the health care debate. Certainly, opinions differ on the topic. I encourage you to read the comments on the Yahoo finance article to see additional views. Surprisingly, although it really should not be, hardly anyone is asking questions about what this means from a financial standpoint in the comments, such as what stocks/sectors will go up or down in the coming months. Further, reliance on facts doesn’t seem to occur much.