2010 health care reform law - Essay Example

Re: Improving Health Care Coverage September 19, The Health Care Reform Law provides for improved health care for many Americans but it also consequently imposes burden on the citizens and employers, especially small businesses including self-employed. The most fundamental fact in the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the inevitability of having to adapt of all sectors that are involved. A main concern that must be discussed is the penal provision imposed by the legislation.

The PPACA, beginning this year, contains an ‘individual mandate’ to purchase insurance coverage much to the apprehension of most people. Without being included in the exception, an individual that must be under coverage and remains without health insurance, faces the fine of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 per family) or 1.0% of the family income, whichever is greater” for this year and the fine increases annually (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). This reiterates that information must be further disseminated and the need to encourage individual participation.

The cooperation of employers is also an important aspect in the success of the program. They must be re-oriented of the policies contained in the law to aid them in choosing the best health insurance policy to implement. The dilemma of small employers and of those self-employed in higher income brackets who often wish to ignore it due to the financial burden it inflicts must be addressed. The tax credit system and the exchanges, federal or not, provide for choices that should keep them on track (Klein, 2012).

BibliographyKaiser Family Foundation. (2014). The requirement to buy coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://kff.org/infographic/the-requirement-to-buy-coverage-under-the-affordable-care-act/Klein, K.E. (2012, Oct. 4). What Obamacare means for small employers in 2013. Businessweek. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-04/what-obamacare-means-for-small-employers-in-2013