ObamaCare Makes History

Although the country may still be divided on Obama’s Affordable Care Act, it marks the first time in history that we have a patient’s “Bill of Rights’ so to speak. As the Huffington Post reports, one of the most significant measures of the new health care reform bill, is that it ensures patients will not be denied treatment due to pre-existing conditions. In addition, it prevents gender bias by not allowing insurance companies to charge more based on an individual’s sex. In short, it provides all citizens with basic health care coverage, something many Americans have gone far too long without. So, whether you are in favor of Obama’s new bill or not, we all must agree that it has set a major precedent in the area of health care reform. Furthermore, the Obama administration will be implementing wellness programs into the new legislation which will reward individuals for taking charge of their health with preventative measures, such as smoking cessation and weight loss. The Hill’s Health Blog reports that smokers participating in cessation programs will be eligible for as much as a 50 percent discount. This not only gives individuals an added incentive for taking a pro-active approach to their health, but it also helps prevent disease, which will make the individual healthier in the long run. Thus, the wellness initiative will not only be beneficial to the patient, but also to the medical companies by cutting down health care costs. Thus, everybody is a winner, and even the opponents of Obama Care cannot argue with that logic.

Here is a video about the new health care bill from President Obama, which was taken shortly after the Supreme Court upheld the decision that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional. It outlines the provisions of the health reform bill and explains who is affected by the new legislation, and more importantly, how they would be affected if ObamaCare didn't exist.