FAST FORWARD TO TODAY’S HEALTHCARE REFORM EFFORTS IN BOTH COUNTRIES

Knowing that the current US healthcare system is clearly lacking in cost containment, one would think that Obamacare (also known as the Affordable Healthcare Act) would address this problem. However, cost containment is not one of its objectives. Its main objective is to promote greater healthcare access and equity. It primarily targets the roughly 50 million Americans who are too young for Medicare, not poor enough for Medicaid and the unemployed who do not have private insurance. Without reform, these individuals are at significant financial risk should they require high-cost medical treatments. Obamacare, by mandating that all individuals purchase health insurance or face a financial penalty, is expected to alleviate this problem.