Summary of Healthy Americans Act (HAA)
Health care reform in United States has taken so many years to come into effect due to the hot debate among Americans as to whether to have a universal healthcare system (single-payer system) or a multi-payer health care system. Nevertheless, with the passing and signing into law, the Healthy American Act (Wyden-Bennett Act), the debate has now slowed down. This congressional bill sought to create a universal health care system funded through private and public contributions. Noting that by the year 2009, 46 million Americans did not have any health care insurance cover of any kind, the Obama administration sought to address this situation so that every American is in a position to acquire affordable, quality, all-inclusive, and manageable health care services. The Wyden-Bennett Act necessitates all adult Americans to purchase health care insurance premiums, Healthy Americans Private Insurance Plan (HAPI), either from the state or from employers.
Thus, the uninsured Americans and those who oppose health care coverage on religious grounds can get HAPI plan available in their residential states. In addition, the Act establishes penalties on individuals who may fail to acquire one of the two plans. Furthermore, the bill empowers the Health Secretary to promulgate guiding principles on all services, items and benefits of health care. In the act, school going children are in a position to access healthcare through the establishment of school-based health centers. In addition, the act mandates the state to create and run Long-term Care Programs for the benefit of the poor. Other sections of the Act allow the establishment of Chronic Care Education Centers subjects to the recommendation from the Secretary of Health. Other provisions include setting standards for insurers, the management of premium subsidies and bonuses, creation of Health Help Agency to control, administer and create HAPI plans for the welfare of American citizenry (S. 391–111th Congress: Healthy Americans Act, 2009, section 202, 211, 301, 311, 312).
The HAA Act has many advantages. For example, rich Americans already insured would see their health deductions reduce significantly. On the other hand, uninsured Americans falling in the class of low-income earners will receive vouchers to purchase insurance premiums. Lastly, the poor Americans who do not have any insurance cover would also access vouchers that will enable them purchase healthcare insurance premiums. Under this act, no employer will provide insurance cover but instead, will provide an equivalent sum of money for employees to make individual healthcare decisions. The act will also see a decrease of family out-of-pocket expenditure and help the government save over US$ 1.5 trillion over one decade (S. 391–111th Congress: Healthy Americans Act, 2009, section 411, 421, 431, 441, 451).
Opponents and the Proponents of the Act
The bill attracted hot debates among the Americans. The opponents of the bill were mainly Democrats while the opponents were mainly Republicans. Liberals, drawn from across the political divide and civil society, who mainly believe healthcare is a fundamental right, advocated for the passage of the bill. On the other hand, conservatives thought that the bill would increase public expenditure. These conservatives argued that the bill would compromise health care services by disorienting the dreams of insurance companies. Furthermore, they believed that some sections of the bill provided gigantic bailout for the operational insurance industry. They argued that the bill would seek to babysit less industrious Americans and benefit insurance companies at the expense of rich and hardworking Americans. According to them, the bill was meant to increase healthcare costs more than they were before the bill became a law. They argued that the two payers, government and employers, will have to increase their deductibles and co-payments to meet their expectations. By doing so, Americans will subject themselves to additional taxes only remitted into the private segment to benefit few individuals and insurance companies (Wyden &Bennett, 2009, p.1).
The liberals led by President Obama proposed that the bill will provide security to the 46 million uninsured Americans, and that the reform agenda will protect Americans from the bureaucracy practiced by insurance companies. The bill will provide a great opportunity for uninsured and small business Americans of choosing the type of healthcare plan they can afford. Additionally, the bill would reduce family and business premiums and offer a competitive insurance market where a doctor is part of the plan. In general, the Congressional Budget Office estimated US$ 1.5 trillion savings within ten years (Lee. 2009, p.1).
Poor and Low-Income Families
These families are bound to benefit greatly from the bill. For instance, the coverage will provide additional comprehensive benefits aimed at insuring the whole family. Due to its affordability and portability, low-income families will access health care services including complicated surgeries amid their low income. Parents need not to work for extra hours to cover their insurance plan. On the other hand, the bill provides the freedom to select a comprehensive health care plan that is affordable.
I support the bill because it seeks to create affordability of health care services to all Americans, rich or poor. This is because through HAA, consumers will be in a position to choose high quality, cost effective and comprehensive health care plan in a highly competitive market. In addition, all consumers will receive unbiased information from their insurance companies based on quality services and reduced insurance premiums.
Reference List
Lee, J. (2009). President Obama Healthcare Speech of September 9, 2009. Web.
S. 391–111th Congress: Healthy Americans Act. (2009). In GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation). Web.
Wyden, R. & Bennett, R. (2009). Working Across the Aisle for Health Reform. The Washington Post. Web.