Obama health care is a subject that people have many opinions about, some good and some bad.  Whether you see it as beneficial or monstrous may depend on the income class you fall in.  The President recently stated that it has been a little over a month since he signed health insurance reform in to law, and this new law has already delivered real benefits to millions of Americans.  He also said that it will take some time to implement the new law fully, but Americans are starting to see a health care system that holds insurance companies accountable, while giving more control to the consumers.

Obama health care does seem to have a few advantages thus far.  It is true that a few insurance companies have been forced to back down on plans to raise premiums.  For example, Anthem Blue Cross intended to raise premiums to California residents by 39%, until their plan was foiled.  The administration demanded that Anthem Blue Cross justify this increase, at which point the company admitted error.

Recently, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, wrote a letter intended for all states.  This letter urges each state to investigate rate hikes in order to put a halt to insurance companies trying to game the system.  President Obama said that in order to assist states in achieving this goal, a new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight has been set up.  States with the best oversight programs will be provided grants, according to the President.

Additionally, the President stated that his administration recently called on an insurance company that was dropping the coverage on women diagnosed with breast cancer systematically to end this practice at once.  Another plus on the Obama health care side – the entire insurance industry has agreed to stop dropping an individual’s coverage when they get sick by complying with the new law before it actually goes into effect.

The President said recently that “implementing health insurance reform won’t happen overnight, and it will require some tweaks and changes along the way.”

Many people feel that Obama health care is essentially taking away the peoples’ right to choose.  One person observed that progress isn’t gained by creating a system which makes the citizens of the United Stated dependent on the government.  Freedom is what this country is about, isn’t it?  Obama health care is a phrase that draws plenty of reaction, both positive and negative.  However, some people offer no reaction at all, and say that they see no change whatsoever in the lives of their family, friends or neighbors due to the new law.

One final note:  In New York, health care premiums have risen an average of 97% or six times faster than incomes have risen since 2000, according to state insurance department data.  Will Obama health care find a fix for New Yorkers?

Mark South
Obama Health Care