Health Care Reform Passes - A Moment to Relfect

Last night, the House of Representatives voted to approve the bill previously passed by the Senate on December 24th. A sidecar bill was also passed which effectively included some amendments to the Health Care Reform bill. After President Obama signs HCR into law (probably on Tuesday), the Senate will take up the sidecar bill. If all items pass muster as being directly related to financial issues, the Senate can pass it with a simple majority of votes as a filibuster is not allowed for bills presented under Reconciliation.

Although Presidents for decades have attempted to reform Health Care, it hasn't happened until now. That has changed this President and this Congress from being referred to (incorrectly) as 'Do Nothing' to having 'Done Something Never Done Before'.

The merits of the Health Care Reform bill can be debated with valid points on both side, however, there really should not be any debate about the following items which will go into effect immediately:

Over 32 Million current un-insured legal citizens of the US will now be able to obtain Health Care and not be refused for pre-existing conditions.

Children can be carried on their parents' insurance plans until they are 26. This helps recent grads and those who find themselves in between jobs or working for companies that do not offer insurance.

Insurance companies can not put a cap on the maximum amount they will reimburse over the course of your lifetime. This impacts those with high-cost ailments like cancer.

The Medicare Part D 'donut hole' will be partially covered with a rebate of $250 for seniors who fell into the gap due to their income level.


This is not the end, it is rather the beginning. There are many issues still to resolve as well as some new ones that will probably be created by adding so many people to the rolls of the insured. A society that cares for all of its members is not without the pains to do so. Future blog posts will cover the remaining 500 pound elephant of insurance costs as well as how do we deal with people living longer now that they have access to better health care.

But for now, lets appreciate the good that has happened. The US has joined the ranks of all other developed nations and now provides health insurance coverage for all of its citizens. We are one step closer to being a Great Society.