Of the many things that the Obama administration will be remembered for, one clear standout is the ObamaCare. As Democrats would affectionately say, elections have consequences, one stark example of the 2016 elections is the now-threatened Affordable Care Act. It was affordable and patient-centered until the entry of big insurance companies that made it expensive and profit centered.

At the moment, politicians from either side of the divide seem not to relent on the upsetting disconnect from their stands to Health Care reforms. One debate after another, all focused on changing Health Care, yet no single overhaul seems to emphasize on lowering the cost of Health Care itself. It is surprisingly underemphasized or sometimes absent from the deliberations altogether, despite being a vital avenue to access to cheaper quality healthcare and lower insurance premiums.

ObamaCare

There were an estimated 20 million people registered under Obamacare, and it was stated that they were to retain their benefits and everything in it. Also, kids under the age of 26 were to remain on their parents’ insurance covers. Right now, though, it is becoming increasingly becoming a case of Republicans in Congress equating health insurance with health care and Democrats rejecting the enactments.

They are collectively and wrongly focused on increasing the number of Americans with health insurance, instead of making health care affordable and patient-centered. Their major disregard that is health insurance premiums is by portraying it as a lesser manifestation of such factors as the cost of medical care and the insurance environment.

Through an ill-advised attempt to insure as many Americans as possible, ACA (ObamaCare) doles out as much as $1 trillion needed to reduce premiums and other extra regulations and taxes. Yet many of them counterproductively increase the same premiums. At this state, however, it should be unwise to debate how detrimental the approach can be.

Health Insurance

It is still baffling, though, that both the Senate and Congress majorly controlled by the Republicans are striving to make insurance “more affordable” by using refundable tax credits. Admittedly, even such a move when they are ignoring the leading cause is futile. It shields medical care providers from competing on price disparities.

For people who can’t afford routine health care, the solution becomes public subsidy given that it is essential for everyone to access quality health care, not insurance. That is to say, the success or failure of ACA or any other alternative Republicans will come up with will be measured based on the quality of services it offers.

Lowering the cost is troubled with peril, and it should only be reasonable if it doesn’t harm patients. It must not jeopardize quality, restrict access or inhibit crucial innovation of medical care in the US.

The first step is to create a conducive environment for consumers where they don’t worry about prices and only receive benefits that have value. This is even more reasonable when a person has an emergency issue that knows no price consideration and just needs quality medical assistance.

We may laud ObamaCare as a success in increasing the number of people with insurance covers, but it is worth noting that it discouraged the emergence of a competitive environment. Had it done it, the quality of services would have automatically increased while lowering the costs.

Now, that is the point that makes these two different – the degree to which ACA has benefited those who couldn’t access health care before. If only what Republicans are proposing will maintain the subsidies, then it will be a great alternative. However, if its mandate is repealed, a considerable portion of ObamaCare subsidies will no longer be paid by the rising premiums remunerated by the young, healthy and wealthy Americans.

Continuation of the subsidies will undoubtedly require Congress or taxpayers, to cater for the whole cost of subsidized health care. The primary goal of health reform should be to cut the costs of medical care. If it increases the number of insurance policyholders, then it isn’t worth accepting.

If Health Insurance, then let it be worth it!

Health insurance can be a lifesaver, especially when the need for antiretroviral medication or drugs Essential Oils For Skin. But unfortunately, it won’t stop a person from living in a poor neighborhood. It won’t improve the cost of living in the area in any way!

Of course, with everything being equal, more insurance coverage than right now is better. But as the society that abides by the law, it would still make sense, even more, when the benefits justify the costs.