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From:	How to Understand Health Care Reform in the US (168.10.168.61)
Subject:	How to Understand Health Care Reform in the US
Date:	August 16, 2009 at 6:49 am PST

Health care reform in the US is a hotly debated topic. Both sides have a great deal at stake and current insurance companies have a great deal to lose. Many television commercials, newspapers and radio spots state that a new health care system in the US will put a bureaucrat between you and your access to benefits. But are these claims true? Lets explore the aspects of health care reform in just a few easy steps.

Step one is to achieve an understanding of the problems with the current health care system. Fact 1: Currently in the US debt from medical expenses is the primary cause of bankruptcy. Fact 2: Our current health care system is also the most expensive in the world, costing more, per individual than any other nation. Fact 3: The US is the only, wealthy industrialized nation that does not cover all individuals. Fact 4 (From Wikipedia): "In spite of the amount spent on health care in the US, a 2008 report by the Commonwealth Fund ranked the United States last in the quality of health care among the 19 compared countries."

Step 2The second step of understanding health care reform in the US is to understand what's at stake. Currently, rather than a bureaucrat, an individual has an insurance company standing between them and benefits. These companies are only concerned with making a profit and this goal is more important than your health or continued existence. These companies stand to lose a great deal if the US adopts a system of Universal coverage.

Step 3The third step to understanding United states Healthcare reform is to understand the proposals made by the Obama administration. In it's own words the plan aims to "improve efficiency and lower costs in the health care system by adopting state-of-the-art health information technology systems; by ensuring that patients receive and providers deliver the best possible care, including prevention and chronic disease management services; reforming the market structure to increase competition; and offering federal reinsurance to employers to help ensure that unexpected or catastrophic illnesses do not make health insurance unaffordable or out of reach for businesses and their employees."

Basically, this means that the plan will attempt to lower the costs of health care by focusing on preventative care and it will also encourage competition between service providers (that doesn't really currently exist) in the hopes of bringing costs down.

The plan aims to provide insurance for all by forcing employers to either pay for their own quality insurance or to contribute to a national plan. In either event the employee is insured. For those not ensured through employers, the Obama plan provides a National Health Insurance Exchange. This exchange would provide access to private and government-run insurance options.

The reason the private interests hate the plan so much is that it will mean less money for insurance and drug companies.

Step 4Step four is to do additional research and to come to your own conclusion. When you see an ad that tries to convince you that health care reform in the US is a bad thing, check up on the company that is paying for the ad or article. Nine times out of ten you will be able to trace the information back to a company that stands to lose if reform is adopted in this country.

If there were no money in convincing you to fear change, then why would someone be paying for ads?

Tips & Warnings
Think for yourselfFind additional informationThe best thing you can do is to find credible sources of information, stay informed and make up your own mind.watch out for private interest groups!

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