The HealthCare Reform Act - Essay Example

Attorneys representing the state of Missouri allege that 71.4% of voters in this state are not in support of this act. Among dissatisfied voters are the elderly individuals receiving medicare. Under current laws excluding the passage of the Health Care Art elderly individuals qualify for specialized programs due to their age. The Health Care Act will eliminate many of these programs leaving seniors to pay large amounts for health care services. Virginia attorneys in a separate lawsuit claim the Health Care Act requires individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or pay additional premiums.

With the choice left between paying additional premiums and elderly individuals forced to compensate for medicare benefits/programs lost many individuals are wondering how they are going to survive financially. According to Glover(2010), "A woman told Lauer she has to make a decision each month on whether to make the house payment or prescription drugs. "We shouldn't have to have those situations going," she said" (pp. 16). Under the new reformation of this act individuals that do not purchase health insurance will be required to pay an annual penalty of $695.

00 leaving many individuals frustrated. However, frustrations extend beyond these two states. Separate lawsuits have been filed in twenty-one states alleging constitutional rights are in violation. Lawyers from the White House may have been right as they believe the Health Care Act will become a state-by-state legal battle. According to Missouri attorney C. Kinder "There are limits to federal powers, and we need to stand up to them on this" (Glover2010. pp. 12). Previous litigation began in July when attorneys filed suit in federal court suing in order to stop the passage of the Health Care Act.

White House officials stand by the passage of this act in the belief that the cost of health insurance premiums will be lowered. According to O'Brien(2010), Conversely, and importantly, Congress also found that, without the minimum coverage provision, the reforms in the Act, such as the ban on denying coverage or charging more based on pre-existing conditions, would amplify existing incentives for individuals to 'wait to purchase health insurance until they needed care,' thereby further shifting costs onto third parties (pp. 16). As over twenty states have filed motions alleging violations of constitutional rights in order to over-turn the Health Care Act representatives from the White House defend the Health Care Act.

The defense lies in the ideology that requiring all individuals to have health insurance will benefit society by lowering health insurance premiums and emphasizing the prevention aspect of disease control and medicine. ReferencesO'Brien, J (2010). Virginia, feds make the case in health care reform challenge.