Duke It Out: Obama’s Healthcare Plan

August 14, 2009     Posted in News, Reality

obama health care


By Lauren H

The week the White House launched a website called Reality Check, obviously aimed at the younger “internet set” to voice its side of the story on Obama’s healthcare reform and answer some of the questions that have arisen. This is one of those issues that I’ve heard about all. over. the place. But the sad truth is, I haven’t been listening much, and either have a lot of other people our age. It suddenly occurred to me that I have heard an awful lot about what our parents and grandparents think on the issue, but next to nothing on it from girls like me.

Are you all like me and just not paying attention, or is it just that we aren’t talking it out?

Well here’s your chance, ladies. If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s time to get informed. If you do, well, duke it out. I want to know what you all think.

But first, we all gotta know what’s up. If you’ve been a little lax in your news watching (like me) or if you just love legalese, here’s the official barackobama.com PDF on the healthcare reform plan. Now, if you weren’t patient enough to wade through all of that (because who is?), I’ve slogged through a lot of the recent news on both sides and here’s the gist:

On the “pro” side: The Obama plan addresses some of the big problems with healthcare right now – the high costs, the hoops doctors and patients have to jump through, the big money insurance companies make at the public’s expense and the way that the poor get the worst level of healthcare (if they’re lucky enough to get any at all). The Obama plan, it seems, would create an option where the government would help subsidize certain qualifying insurance plans to make them more affordable for everyone, particularly low-income people who can’t afford insurance now.

There have been a number of assurances that the new program would be strictly voluntary, particularly aimed at those without healthcare now. And there are plenty of modern countries, like the UK, that have government run healthcare systems, which many argue are more effective than our own. Even in the US, many note, government-run systems like Medicare do a better job of providing care than private HMOs, which could be a strong point for a bureaucratically based system, as well as the heavier regulations that would come along with government control.

Perhaps the biggest point on the the “pro” list is the basic fact that our current system just isn’t working. Community hospitals have had a hard time in the last few years, with many going bankrupt and being replaced by for-profit facilities that do much less for lower-income groups. Many healthcare workers have lost jobs and both the cost of procedures and the amount of time it takes to get them approved and covered has only gone up.

On the “con” side: The details are still a little sketchy on how exactly things would work with the plan due in large part to the fact that the program actually only exists in the form of several different drafts, leaving a lot of important facets to the reform left to be nailed down.

Some say that the system for funding the $1 trillion program (a major expenditure in still difficult economic times) would probably backfire and end up with the middle-class footing most of the bill. It also seems likely that those who can already afford healthcare would hold onto their superior plans, with many doctors catering to them, leaving those with the government subsidized plan with mediocre coverage and facilities once again.

There are also many who balk at the level of government control that would be involved, even suggesting that certain healthcare rights might be lost in the program, and no one wants that. Despite assurance that no one will be forced to use the government plan, there’s a big question about how government subsidized insurance can co-exist with a for-profit plan. The government plan would almost necessarily undercut the current insurance companies (otherwise, it’s existence would be pointless), potentially causing the for-profit companies to fail and ultimately pushing everyone into the subsidized insurance - in direct opposition with what they seem to be trying to do.

Finally, one of the big beefs about the current bill is that it has been put together very quickly and is intended to be pushed through in just weeks with very little concrete information out there about what exactly the whole affair is about.

Obviously there’s still a lot of questions up in the air right now and the Obama administration has been criticized from both sides about how poorly the information about the new bill has been distributed. Maybe the new website will help, but it looks like many of the major news sources have already cast their vote against the effort. Still, with the current healthcare system taking some hard hits, it’s obvious something needs to be done.

So what do you think ladies? Am I getting it all wrong? Is the new healthcare reform a good idea? The best of a bunch of bad ideas? Or just a bad idea altogether?

30 Comments on "Duke It Out: Obama’s Healthcare Plan"

  1. Sam says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 200912:28 pm 

    I think the health care reform is much needed. Our current system is not working at all, millions are without health care, which is devastating at 2009 in a country that is supposed to have equal opportunities.

    Insurance companies need to be taken down a peg, instead of insuring people they are only interested in profit, and record setting profit at that.

    Obama's plan is not perfect at the moment, but I definitely think it's better than what we have now.

  2. AshleyLauren says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 200912:59 pm 

    I agree! The insurance companies make it difficult for low income people to have insurance…I think that Obama's plan, although not perfect, is definitely a step in the right direction.

  3. Matt says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20091:43 pm 

    Our current system could be tweeked up a drastic overhaul is not needed. I agree that everyone should have access to basic health care such as yearly physicals. But, everyone is not entitled to the best health care there is. In our counrty there is incentive to go to school and get a good job so you can afford good health care and a certain lifestyle. This administration is trying to give handouts to everyone. Next thing they will say everyone is entitled to a BMW!

  4. Sam says:
    Fri, 14th Aug 20092:02 pm 

    Matt, I don't think that's really fair. Providing everyone with health care, so they can have the basic preventative care to live a longer life is a far cry from handing out free cars.

    Without health care, many disadvantaged people cannot afford to be treated, let alone go to college to get a good job so they can get the privileged people's insurance.

    As much as American is supposed to be a land of opportunities, it's a far cry from it. Money speaks.

  5. Ellen says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20093:00 am 

    What you need to do is look at other countries around the world where they have some kind of government health care and see how that's working. The US is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage, and as a result you spend twice as much money on health care for poorer quality of care, and of course the poor are the worst off.

    Now, in terms of the argument against with private companies going out of business, that's not going to happen. They'll be able to offer a higher quality of care for those who can afford it, so there will be some kind of incentive for those who can afford it. I'm not sure exactly what the proposal is, but here in Australia, we have a system where if you earn over a certain amount, you pay extra tax if you don't get private health insurance. So, it encourages the people who can afford it to get private health insurance, taking pressure off the public system, and at the same time allows for competition in the private sector.

    So far all the talk has been about Canada and the UK, why don't you look at other countries with government health programs, like Australia, to see what you'll be getting?

  6. Matt says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20098:05 am 

    Sam- The passing and expanding of the SCHIP bill in the last decade covers all children, and even some immigrants. This funds health care for children, and with all the other gov programs for education, college is a real possiblility for nearly everyone.

    Ellen- America has the best health care in the world. Why do you think people come from all over the globe to the states to get procedures done? Our system is the envy of the world. Like i said it may need a tweak but an overhaul is not needed. If adults want the finer things in life, the best care, coverage etc, they should work for it.

  7. Charlie says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20099:36 am 

    I LOVE that the "young people" like the girls on this site, were the ones who "got out and voted!" for this president, and yet, once he was elected into office they just kind of stopped caring what he was all about. You put him there, you should know what is going on with his administration. Otherwise, just don't vote next time and let the big people make the right decisions.

  8. D says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20093:11 pm 

    Dear Charlie,

    while it's true we young people (specifically ladies) went out in record numbers to vote for Obama I have to tell you…it's not because we knew what we were doing. True story! The MTV and celebrities told us to vote so we did! Between episodes of The Hills and applying coats of nail polish that is… now that the hype is over we stopped caring.

    Because for realz what young woman gives a crap about equal pay as she's entering the work force? What loser college student pays attention to how the economic downturn-and the stimulus-have affected our ability to get money for school? (did I say school? I meant money for shoes)Why should young people who are going to bear the burden if Medicare isn't fixed giving a flying hoot? The fact that articles about health care are popping up all over "young people sites" and not just news hubs is sooo not a sign we care. I promise. (not like we READ news sites. Ha! Whats a health care anyway?)

    In closing thanks for reminding everyone that we young woman don't care. If not for you we might have forgotten and tried to have an intelligent debate! Teehee how silly!

    XoXo

    D

    (tip-Sarcasm was used in the making of this comment)

  9. Ellen says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20095:53 pm 

    No, in America you just think you have the best health care system in the world. Then your representatives say it over and over again, until you all believe it and stop caring about reform. You have the highest infant mortality rate of any developed country, and your life expectancy is 46th in the world. Life expectancy declined over the last twenty years in 180 counties, predominantly poor ones, the gap between the rich and the poor is growing. Seriously, I could go on and on. Your health care system sucks.

    I agree, often many of the more recent and most advanced surgeries are performed only in the US, and sure, that's helpful to 0.00001% of the population who actually have those diseases (btw, I agree the US is best at innovation in health care). But having health care reform isn't going to stop US innovation in health care, it's going to make it accessible for all US citizens. It's going to, over time, reduce health care costs and improve the overall quality of health care provided.

    And seriously, health care is one of "the finer things in life"? What is wrong with you?

  10. Charlie says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20096:16 pm 

    Right D. Next election, stay home and watch your "hills" and MTV. Our country would benefit from it.

  11. Stephanie PTY says:
    Sat, 15th Aug 20098:50 pm 

    anonymn said: Obama’s plan with any of his agenda seems to be “let congress figure it out.”

    Uh, yeah… of course that's true! It's called "Checks and Balances" and "Separation of Power," and it's how the federal government works in America. Although Obama (or any President) has some power to influence reform and get legislation rolling, he doesn't actually write the legislation. Congress does.

  12. Jason says:
    Sun, 16th Aug 20093:27 pm 

    I agree with those on the site that say it isn't perfect, but it's better than what's there now. Now, since we're not sure exactly what is going to make it into the bill and hopefully into law, I think it's a safe bet that there would be significant improvements.

    What troubles me most about this is the essential disallowance of rational discussion on the matter. When I hear the vitriol and well… foolishness coming out of the mouths of the screaming Glen Becks, Sean Hannity's and even the Sarah Palins about "death panels", euthanasia, the US turning into Russia, etc… it just takes away from the whole discussion. By all means they have their opinions but I would have hoped (high hopes, as it were) that with their soapbox they'd be held to some level of scrutiny for the accuracy of their rants.

    It's these same "news" entertainers who then encourage mob mentalities at town halls to ensure there's lots of video footage of Members of Congress getting shouted down and "salt of the earth, honest Americans" having their say. It's both sad and detrimental to the notion of rational discourse and ultimately a workable plan.

    And don't even get me started how easily the term "socialism" is being thrown around by these same ranters. This is nothing even CLOSE to true socialism… but if people don't want to bother to learn the definition of it and see some examples of real socialism, they're not likely to be open to discussing its intricacies.

    Sigh.

  13. Michelle says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20092:43 am 

    If you think that Obama's healthcare plan is a good idea, you are a fucking idiot. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for poor people who are uninsured? What the hell are they contributing to society? They are worthless. The faster they die, the better. There are already enough worthless people living off the hard work of taxpayers who bust their ass not only to feed their own families, but to feed the scum who sit on their ass all day and receive welfare.

    Only the very rich and the moronic college students think that this is a good idea. The very rich because they are rich enough that this shit won't matter at all to them. And, the college students because they are too fucking dumb that they don't realize yet that if this passes, the money to fund this so that the scum sitting on their asses live longer will come directly out of their paycheck. And their children's paychecks. And, their grandchildren paychecks.

    If you don't have an educated opinion on this topic, shut the fuck up and stay out of the way!!!!

  14. Jason says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20092:47 am 

    Well, I take it back – it appears rational discourse is alive and well! :-)

  15. Casey says:
    Mon, 17th Aug 20093:34 pm 

    Michelle, I agree. I just lost my job on friday (2 months after moving into my very first apartment) I loose my health care on Wednesday (2 weeks after developing some serious health problems.) And if that wasn't bad enough I went to Walmart the other day to buy groceries and in front of me was a Mexican family that spoke not a word of English USING FOOD STAMPS! They had three small children. The cashier was trying her best to explain to them how to use the food stamp card and they just didn't understand. I had to stand in line and wait for 10 minutes all the while thinking to myself "I'm a poor college student that just lost my job, I know I can't afford these groceries that I'm about to get, and it SUCKS standing behind these people knowing that my taxes are paying for their food, when I don't even have the money in my account to pay for mine. And the only reason those people (who I am sure, based on the fact that they spoke NO English what so ever, are illegal aliens) have welfare is because of those three kids."

    It sickens me knowing that I can't even afford food for myself and yet, as a tax payer, I am forced to pay for someone else's food. Especially someone who is here illegally.

  16. Brooke says:
    Tue, 18th Aug 200912:34 am 

    Casey- I am sorry about your situation. Going to Walmart is like the Earth version of what Hell must look like. Mexicans with 10 kids who can't speak english and smell like shit. One of the most abhorrent things these subhuman animals do is when I am pushing my cart down an aisle where all 15 family members are and they are in my fucking way. Instead of having the common courtesy to move their worthless asses out of the way like a human would, they simply just stare at me and don't move. MOVE THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY LOSERS!!!!!!

    People who work hard shouldn't have to pay for the healthcare of these animals. There are 12 million illegal animals in the US according to some estimates. That is disgusting. Instead of the bailout money going to the idiotic financial sector, that money should have been used to construct a fence across the whole Southern border to keep these animals from entering the US illegally. They don't deserve to be in this country. They are scum.

  17. Eresbel says:
    Sun, 23rd Aug 20095:43 pm 

    Casey, it's funny you think that poor people don't deserve health care because as of your post, you don't have a job. You are exactly the kind of person who Michelle said should die, "the faster, the better". I mean, clearly you lost your job because of your own fault. You must be incompetent or else you'd have a job and health insurance. Through your own line of reasoning, I can surmise this.

    I am surprised by how many Americans don't care about anyone but themselves.

  18. nightscooter says:
    Mon, 28th Sep 200911:06 am 

    Wow.

    I'm in New Zealand and I keep hearing on the news how Obama's aproval rating is going down because he's trying to get a decent health system in place. Over here there is a reputation about America's health care system. And if we're sitting around the table at dinner complaining about our hospitals, someone will always mention that 'at least its not like America', where if you had both arms and legs broken and your butt was on fire, they'd first ask if you had any health insurance before lifting a finger to help. (I personally hope that IS an exageration!)

    Over here, if you get injured, you get fixed. If you need a hip replacement or a life-saving operation, you go on a waiting list, and then get fixed. If you don't want to wait, or just want to get the 5 star treatment, then you get private health care, it's your choice.

    But NEVER EVER do we feel that we should let people DIE because they can't afford their own private health care?!? It honestly sickens me to read these comments by Michelle, Casey and Brooke. I am just so lost for words right now. I hope your siblings, your partners, your children, your friends, your cousins, everyone you know, never loose their jobs, never get in a situation where you suddenly think 'You're not getting MY tax dollars, go curl up a die!'.

    …sick.

  19. madison says:
    Tue, 29th Sep 20094:27 am 

    nightscooter…that IS an exaggeration. I work at a hospital, and have for years, and a good deal of my patients don't have health insurance. We legally can NOT turn people away if they need medical attention. So please, get your facts straight.

    And if you actually look at what Obama is proposing, it's absolutely ridiculous. If he had a legitimate health care reform proposal I don't think his approval ratings would be so low. His ideas are going to increase taxes for the MIDDLE class. It's going to affect people's ability to see their doctor in a timely manner, people aren't going to be able to get certain diagnostic tests done, people who might have a shot to live may not get treated because they're too old, and won't be considered for treatment. Healthcare in this country may need to be reformed, but not the way that Obama wants to do it. If he thinks of something better, I'd be more than willing to get behind it, but not this.

  20. jennifer says:
    Thu, 8th Oct 20096:04 pm 

    So you lot really want to pay your life savings to realise you’ve got a cold, rather than be told you’ve got some horrible disease for free?

    Jeez, you bunch of idiots. Taxes being paid to help keep the country healthy, is it so much to ask?

  21. Melanie says:
    Wed, 14th Oct 20092:27 pm 

    While it’s true young people went out in record numbers to vote for Obama. He also got 95% of the Negro, and Arab vote.

    How this plans works is that it forces everyone to go out and buy health insurance. Buy getting young healthy people to pay for insurance they don't need, off sets the amounts paid out to care of older sickly people. That is how the plan works. Healty people get to pay for sick peoples care. Your not getting free health insurance. Young healthy people are going to be forced to pay for old sick people. Young people get nothing for their money.

    Now all the young people that voted for Obama are just going to get screwed out of their money. Money they would have spent on a car, vacation or going out on the town, is now going to be spent on medical care for someone who is going to die anyway. There is nothing you can do to stop the 'Reaper' from coming. We all die eventually and all the medical care you can pay for is not going to stop that.

    Young people are going to hate Obama if this passes.

  22. Melanie says:
    Wed, 14th Oct 20092:40 pm 

    Jennifer (above) is very much in the dark on this issue. She is going to be surprized to see who the real idiot's are here. Jenn thinks that taxes are going to pay for Health Insurance and that she is getting this for free.

    She is going to be forced to pay for Health Insurance. She is not getting anything for free. Some people are now paying up to $500 a month. Even if she has to pay as little as $100 a month. That could be more than most people can afford. The current plan does not bring costs down. All this plan insures is that Doctors get paid. Doctors are all for this plan. Doctors want this plan. Just like Auto Insurance companies forced everyone to get Auto Insurance. That bill was a boon to Insurance Industry.

    Again young people are going to hate Obama if this health care plan passes.

  23. carey says:
    Fri, 6th Nov 20094:41 pm 

    melanie is right . and there will be a fine if you fail to pay for insurance .either way obamas plan will get your money to pay for this .

  24. Lim Lake says:
    Sun, 8th Nov 20094:30 pm 

    Its not good that obomas taking a hugh chunk out of seniors

    medicare and having the seniors program for end of life quickly

    I have three years before I get medcare program

    Iam not intrested in the end of life program

    second the great obama saying seniors are more expensive

    for there health to invest money into

    then these illigels mexican baby factory

  25. sad4you says:
    Wed, 9th Dec 20097:45 pm 

    I feel sorry for all of you people who don't seem to know what you are currently paying for. Every time an unisured person uses the emergency room. Every time an unisured person is sick and you are exposed to his untreated diseases. All of the lost productivity from people who are not able to work because of an illness that could have been treated for little or nothing had it been caught early. You spend so much time worrying about "poor" people getting something for free. They already get it for free (for what it's worth). You are paying for it. As long as things stay the same way they are, you will continue to pay for it. Think!!!!

  26. Casey says:
    Thu, 10th Dec 20099:00 am 

    Nightscooter, did you READ my post!? I had just lost MY job when I wrote it, and I didn't get ANYONE'S tax dollars to help me out in my time of need. So why should I have to pay for someone WHO IS LIVING HERE ILLEGALLY to get more than I, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, can even afford?! How does that make ANY sense AT ALL!? It doesn't. The fact that people like you think I should have to pay for someone else when I can't even afford to pay for myself sickens me.

    And FYI, My mom DID loose her job, which meant my family had to use the health insurance from my dads job which cost my parents $1200.00 dollars A MONTH. That's 1200 dollars a month that they certainly can't afford. Does anyone help them pay it? Yeah, me, and my sister. Even though, now that I got my job back, I am paying for my own health insurance again (which luckily is only 48 dollars a month). If Obama's plan goes into action am I going to be forced to pay for my health insurance, and pay a tax to cover everyone else's insurance on top of that? Even though I wont be using the benefits of those taxes? That seems extremely unfair that I have to pay for me and everyone else when I'm a poor college student trying to keep a roof over my head, and food on the table, and my car, and gas for said car, and electricity in my home. Sorry it "sickens you" but I CAN'T AFFORD to pay for anyone but myself, when I can barely even afford to pay for myself.

    And Sad4you, yeah I know what you mean, like the 50 people I work with who get to sit by me when I randomly black out freaking out cause they don't know what to do for me, or who have to listen to me cry and wince at the sight of me tearing at my legs cause they itch so bad for an unexplained reason, because even though I have health insurance I can't afford the 15 dollar co-pay to actually GO to the doctor. But yeah, it's going to help me SOOOOOOOO MUCH to have even more of MY money taken out of taxes so OTHER people can have health care, when I can't even afford to use my own. THINK!

  27. Casey says:
    Thu, 10th Dec 20099:05 am 

    And Eresbel, I lost my job TEMPORARILY because the store I worked at closed. Now 2 months later, as promised by my boss, I have my job back, and will have my health insurance back within the month.

  28. coetsee says:
    Wed, 30th Dec 200911:40 pm 

    By that I mean latching on to this or that latest, most innovative idea that some self styled money making guru has put out in the hope it’ll go viral and make them a lot of money off the backs of all the headless chickens who will follow them blindly down a blind alley. Its a shame but a truism nonetheless that people will follow where someone they see as an expert leads. Even if they lead them to certain disaster, which is what most of the gurus tend to do to their flocks.

    Thanks N Regards

    Coetsee

  29. Troy says:
    Fri, 22nd Jan 20102:54 am 

    What a lot of you don’t realize is that every other industrialized nation in the world spends LESS money per capita on health care than the United States. You complain about paying for people’s healthcare via taxes…YOU ALREADY DO. AND you pay more than anyone else. You ask, well that doesn’t make any sense, how can that be true? Because as someone said earlier that works at a hospital, it is against the law to turn away a patient even without insurance. The government pays that bill. And why does our government pay more? Because healthcare prices themselves are twice as much as other nations. The government has to pay a larger bill in the US than the socialized ones. To the person who said “THINK!”, I say DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE MATTER” Philosophies and Ideologies are good and all, but data, facts, etc = reality. Anyone who is against healthcare reform in America simply has not done the research. Thank You

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