Healthcare overhaul needs work
E ven Democrats agree the landmark Affordable Healthcare Act, known as Obamacare, needs fixing, but they still do not seem willing to work with Republicans on a new bill.
Republicans have also failed on coming up with a new plan and while we agree healthcare reform is a massive undertaking, we are disappointed so far from what we have seen from Republicans.
Somewhere between what the Republicans are proposing and what Democrats appear to like, lies the fix that is needed. The question, can we get there?
We are skeptical of the Congressional Budget Office’s estimations as to what the Republican Senate plan will mean. That office was far off in its projections on Obamacare and we feel the numbers given as to those who will lose healthcare under the Republican plan are overstated.
Somebody has to decided is healthcare to be free for anyone asking, or should people have to pay something. That seems the center of the disagreement. Some in the Democratic party want healthcare free to as many people as possible, even if those people are healthy, able-bodied citizens who could earn a living and pay something for healthcare. One report stated that 25 percent of those on Medicaid are healthy and able to work. Are those, if they need to get work to be covered, part of the 22 million estimated to lose health coverage over the next 10 years? We don’t know.
There are definitely people in this nation who need help with their healthcare and those are the ones any health plan should be focused on. Unemployment is low right now so there should be no excuses for people finding work, hopefully work that will provide health benefits or at least pay well enough to afford minimal health insurance.
We are certain that doing nothing is not the best approach and we are certain just offering healthcare to everyone would bankrupt the nation. There must be compromise, including among Republicans, to come up with a plan which works for all.
We are pleased the Republicans have delayed a vote and we would encourage them to make changes to the plan that can gain the support of Democrats and we would encourage the Democrats to stand up and be part of the solution, and not the resistance as they like to say.