Current Political Controversy on Healthcare Reform - Essay Example

?Current Political Controversy: Health Care Reform Introduction Very few people will argue the assertion that the healthcare of citizens is the most important issue in the political issues of a nation. The justification is that the health and wellbeing of the populace constitutes the sustenance of the life of the people and it is only when the people are kept alive with prudent healthcare policies that they will be in a position to vote for political leaderships. Due to general assertion on the importance of healthcare, healthcare issues have never been joked with in the politics of any nation. The United States of America is one nation that has over the years placed a lot of premium on healthcare and continues to do so. There is no denying the fact that in the United States of America, the issue of healthcare reforms has grown beyond a national issue to a political issue and it keeps becoming more and more controversial because of the political dimension it has taken. Despite the political perspective with which the issue of healthcare reform in the United States takes, it is still possible to discuss the policy from a purely objective viewpoint without any political sentiments and that is exactly what is going to be done in this essay. The present controversy has to do with whether the Obama proposed healthcare reform is feasible and necessary for the United States. Without any reservation, I would say that my position is in the affirmative. Major arguments with the Health Care Reform The health care plan proposed by Mr. Obama during the 2008 campaign season and which has continued to be his ambitious legacy has several important components and issues that continue to spark controversy and arguments. Some of the major components are discussed with my side of the argument clearly stated. Attainability of Universal Health Care The first argument held by Mr. Obama is the attainment of universal health care. Health PAC (2011) explains that “universal health care is the belief that all citizens should have access to affordable, high-quality medical care.” Politically, this argument is highly valid and that is where I belong. Logically, all citizens are a representation of the nation and government. They also constitute the political kingmakers. Any national policy that seeks to improve the wellbeing of the citizenry must therefore be universal and not discriminatory. Among some other technical reasons why universal health care is prudent and needs to be embarked is the fact that the cost of healthcare continues to be very expensive and that not all people are able to afford. Statistics has it that “the number of uninsured U.S. residents has grown to over 45 million” (Balanced Politics, 2011). This calls for the need of reaching very far with healthcare as there is evidence of discrimination with healthcare benefits. Having quoted the number of uninsured Americans, it becomes justifiable for opponents to argue that universal health care would be a huge economic burden unto the United States and can destroy the economic amidst global economic down-turn. However, it is important to consider the proverb that says that if you think education is expensive, try ignorance. If anyone thinks universal health care is expensive, the fellow should think about the amount of revenue that the nation will loss as a result of non-productive human resource because of ill-health. Guaranteed eligibility for affordable health care for all Americans Another component of the Obama led health care policy is the guaranteed eligibility for affordable health care for all Americans. This component of the health care plan seems to answer critics who argue that universal health care is unattainable. Critics believe that the population of America is too large to think of a single health care policy that will cater for the health needs of all citizens. These critics believe that such statutory interventions should come in only when the situation is highly critical. However, under the guaranteed eligibility for affordable health care for all Americans, the funding of healthcare will be strategized in such a way that the cost will not be from a one-way source. Rather there will be health care service paid for by insurance reform, health care service financed through reducing costs, opening up accessibility to health care by removing patent protection for pharmaceuticals, and cutting the burden off government to ensure that employers either furnish meaningful coverage or contribute to a new public plan that will cater for their employees (Colliver, 2008). Critics of this component of the health care plan wish for a more accessible way of funding the proposed guaranteed eligibility. They argue that there could be medium like indirect tax on goods and services to cater for guaranteed eligibility. As far as it remains true that this suggestion will reduce the direct cost on citizens and reduce the likelihood that some people will not insure themselves, it must be noted that any form of guaranteeing health care through taxes on goods and services would create an unfair situation where people who do a lot of purchases and patronage of services will be the ones to be bearing the cost of other people who do little purchasing. This way, the need to install responsiveness towards hard work meant at making people accountable for their needs will be defeated. Reduction of premium by $2500 Critics are of the view that if advocators of the new health care policy are really concerned about the success of the program and more importantly about the success of the universal health care for all through insurance, then the existing premium should either not be cut or it should be increased. Their argument is that the premium serves as the lifeline to the health care reform and that serves as a fund not just for today’s health care needs but that of the future as well. The validity of this argument cannot be challenged. However, it is important to look at the issue from a socialist viewpoint whereby affordability by the populace must be considered. On this, it is worth noting that as America continues to fight economy related issues including unemployment, it is important that health care does not also become a burden on the people especially when the policy being talked about is new and would need a lot of people on board to ensure its success. What critics do not realize is that if the premium of the health insurance is set at an affordable quota and a lot more people will be attracted to the insurance, it is fair better than raising the premium and having only a few people aboard the new health care policy (Mactonto, 2009). Conclusion My stand is that the new health care policy must be supported and implemented. This is because the purpose of the health care reform is coming to target the ordinary American. Indeed it is the ordinary American who forms part of the 45 million people who are not covered under any health insurance policy. For this reform to think of the plight of such an American and take initiative to solve the problem therefore there should be no opposition to stopping such a good course. It may be true that America is currently not having a very bright economic standing and so would have a murky economic future if it implements the health care reform. However, this is another challenge for politicians to be up to the task to balance the imbalances by ensuring that there are prudent economic measures that meets the aspirations. Indeed without the health reform, it is not the politician who is opposing it that will suffer because such politician can afford his own health expenses. Without the health care reform, it is going to be the ordinary American who is already suffering some forms of economic hardship that will suffer and so the reform must e support with every American’s maximum might. REFERENCE LIST Balanced Politics ‘Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans?’ 2011. Web. November 15, 2011 Colliver, Victoria ‘McCain, Obama agree: health care needs fixing’ 2008, San Francisco Chronicle: San Francisco Health PAC ‘Universal Health Care’ 2011. Web. November 14, 2011 Mactonto F. S ‘Debating on the new healthcare policy’ 2009. New York: New Press Corporation Read More