Now that the Obama health care plan has passed in to law, it looks as though more Americans are in favor of the plan.  Prior to it being signed in to law by President Obama on March 23rd, it seemed that a big percentage of Americans were opposed to the Obama health care plan.  Now, it seems that many are calling the legislation a “good first step” that should be followed by more action.

While it does seem that more Americans are leaning in favor of what is now law, there are still plenty who remain divided about the health care legislation that barely passed the House.  A survey conducted by USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 31%, nearly one third of those who were surveyed, believe that the bill makes the wrong types of changes.  Approximately one month ago a survey was taken by USA Today concerning the Obama health care plan.  Between that survey and the most recent, a noticeable shift toward support of the bill took place among minorities, low-income Americans and individuals under 40 years of age.

With the new health care law, changes will be implementedover the next several years.  Many people are concerned about pre-existing conditions, and whether or not they will be covered under the Obama health care plan.  As of this year, access to health insurance for those with a pre-existing condition that have been uninsured for 6 months will be available.  A high-risk pool is a program that provid

es insurance for Americans who do not have health insurance but have a pre-existing condition.  High-risk pools provide affordable insurance which is temporary until the year 2014, when the Obama health care plan will prevent insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

The Obama health care plan offers those individuals on Medicare the opportunity to participate in free preventative care beginning January 1 of 2011.  This measure means that those who are on Medicare can have preventative services that are not subject to co-payments and exempts these services from being deductibles.  Another benefit many favor is the fact that after 6 months of enactment, young people can remain on their parents’ insurance policy until their 26th birthday under new health plans, and certain existing plans will allow people of this age group to be grandfathered in.

House Speaker Nancy Polosi made the statement at a Capitol Hill ceremony that the passage of this bill “makes a tremendous difference in the lives of Americans.”  At the same time, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio who is House GOP leader, wasn’t quite as pleased about the Obama health care plan as Polosi, stating that this was a “grim moment for millions.”

Whether politicians or everyday American citizens, President Obama feels that once people realize what the health care law really contains and how it works, those with a negative attitude about it will change their tune.  He stated, “From this day forward, all of the cynics, all the naysayer’s – they’re going to have to confront the reality of what this reform is and what it isn’t.”  The President said that all of the people against the Obama health care plan will finally come to realize that this is not a government takeover of the health care system.

Although many Americans are now seeing the Obama health care plan in a more positive light, there are still many who are not happy that the bill passed.  Now that it is law, it looks as though everyone will have to live with it, whether pleased or not.

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