Medical insurance unaffordable, delicate issue
Voxometer’s winner for the month of December simply wants affordable health care for all Americans. User Georgene, whose suggestion was selected, is upset by the priority of the insurance companies over the people they cover. Specifically citing the self-employed, she says that health insurance is too expensive and deductibles are so high that many will only take advantage of benefits in the case of hospitalization.
The VoxSQUAD started out by digging up a little dirt on the state of health care. The Affordable Care Act was recently passed, making it illegal for insurance companies to deny claims without the chance for an appeal, deny coverage for children with pre-existing conditions, cancel a person’s policy without fraud, or place lifetime limits on benefits. In addition, insurance companies must now use at least 80 percent of their revenue on insuring clients, rather than on advertising and profit.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that approximately 50 million Americans are without health insurance and 10 percent of children are not covered. In addition, the recession has caused a large number of citizens to drop their insurance. Even more are relying on emergency room services in place of regular doctor visits.
Labeled as “Obamacare” by its opponents, the new system has been a heated issue among people of all political affiliations. Majority Leader designate Eric Cantor says, “What I think you will see us do is push for repeal of the health care bill and at the same time contemporaneously submit our replacement bill.” The VoxSQUAD wrote an open letter to congressmen on the “hypocrite list”—representatives Joe Heck (R-Nev.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), and Bill Johnson (R-Ohio)—asking “why the heck am I paying for your healthcare” and inviting these congressmen to “join the millions of us who are uninsured or under-insured.”
The VoxSQUAD discovered that the aforementioned Andy Harris recently attended a seminar for congressmen and complained that his health coverage wouldn’t take effect until February. He was quoted as saying that “this is the only employer I’ve ever worked for where you don’t get coverage the first day you are employed.” Another letter was sent, stating that Voxometer “believe[s] it is hypocritical for a member of congress to defund, delay and ditch "Obamacare" while allowing taxpayers to foot the bill for your care.”
Representative Joe Heck responded to Voxometer, thanking them for their e-mail . He stated that he “will continue to work for meaningful reforms that will actually accomplish that goal – but… will not support 2,700 page bills full of items that have nothing to do with healthcare.” Heck even delved into the details of his current employer-provided healthcare and provided specifics about the changes it will undergo once he is sworn into office, maintaining that “taxpayers are not ‘footing the bill’” in the least.
Health insurance is a complex political, social, and personal issue and it has yet to be seen if 2,700-page bills are worth the trouble. With the passing of the Affordable Care Act, however, the insured and hardworking Americans such as Georgene are one step closer to having equal and fair coverage.
About Voxometer
Voxometer is the Universal Suggestion Box. The VoxSQUAD’s mission is to provide an outlet for anyone with a suggestion to share it, get it noticed and put it into action.
http://www.voxometer.com
Media contact: Emily Weiner, Publicity, Voxometer
Emily@voxometer.com, (414)899-0024
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Posted by
rochelle 900 days ago
(Editorial)
Voxometer’s December Winner: Healthcare
