There are many elements of health care legislation in United States history that are significant, but the one I believe was among the most important in history that is being made today is the Affordable Care Act which was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and signed by the United States president Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The health care related arrangements will go on for a four year period from the time they were signed. This Act enables people with pre-existing conditions to get a private health care plan without the fear of being rejected by the health care providers due to the money they are going to cost them, and also allows them to receive the same charged as those without pre-existing conditions. The qualifications for medicaid were also expanded thanks to this act. On top of this, it provides support for medical research. The law expects each state to create a “federally approved health insurance exchange,” where people without insurance or small businesses without health insurance can purchase coverage from a range of health insurance providers. This law also requires individuals to prove that they have an approved insurance policy through their IRS tax returns or pay additional taxes, though there are some low income exceptions. One reason why I believe this is a significant element of United States history is because there are many arguments behind it. Being something that will affect many citizens, it is widely known and argued. Since the money that is going to be used to pay for all of this coverage is going to be coming from taxes some people argue that this is going to come with multiple tax provisions. According to Michael Bihari, former About.com guide who wrote an article about Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions, “...the purchase and provision of health insurance is entwined with many people’s jobs and tax-related benefits.” According to “The Health Law Partners” “In 2013, taxpayers with more than $200,000 in earned income ($250,00 for joint filers) will pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on the excess and an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income, including interest, rents, and royalties.” People are concerned that they are paying for other people's insurance, and they are angry at the fact that this democracy is acting in “communist ways” as some may argue, since there are people of greater income who are paying for things that have nothing to do with them, even though they are hard working citizens who earn their money and should have the right to spend it and use it on what they feel is right. On the other hand, citizens are worried about what people like “The Health Law Partners” say when they announce that in 2014, “individuals who are not eligible for government-provided coverage will be penalized if they fail to purchase essential health coverage.” This is obviously not a perfect law and there are large amounts of citizens who are displeased. There will never be a time when everybody has what they want and everybody is happy, but people will continue to ask for what they want and if people are displeased with this, then they won't stop until they get what they want. We are only moving forward here as a nation and all everyone's voice must be heard. It's a work in progress.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act
http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/web/20102724.htm
http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/reform/a/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions.htm
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