Some of our healthcare clients are thinking they won’t have to comply with ObamaCare because it will be repealed. However, the National Journal recently reported that Americans don’t want ObamaCare repealed.
From National Journal July 22, 2013
“Americans aren’t ready to repeal ObamaCare. But that doesn’t mean they think its implementation is going well.
A majority of adults don’t want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, preferring instead to either spend more on its implementation or wait to see if changes are needed later….
Given the choice to either repeal the law, wait and see how it takes effect, or add money to aid its implementation, only 36 percent of adults picked outright repeal. More than half chose to either wait and see (30 percent) or provide more money (27 percent).”
From National Journal July 22, 2013
There is lots of discussion every day in the news about ObamaCare and its impact on employers, employees and healthcare providers. I think the news is often based on misinformation rather than facts. The truth is we really don’t know how ObamaCare will impact insurance rates, healthcare providers and employers as we are just in the beginning phases. One thing I know for sure from working in healthcare for 27 years, we must do something to “fix” healthcare. ObamaCare might not be the answer, but the status quo is simply not an option. We ask our healthcare providers to accept all emergent patients, provide whatever care they need without any knowledge on how the healthcare provider will get paid or what they will get paid. No business can plan for their future unless they can budget for the services they provide and be paid for those services. Likewise, we cannot continue to ask patients to go to a healthcare provider never knowing what is covered, what is not or how much they will be billed. Healthcare is broken and we need to work together to fix it.
Here are some facts:
- The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010. It has done some good things. It ended pre-existing condition exclusion for children. It keeps young people under the age of 26 insured by allowing them to be on their parents’ insurance. It ended arbitrary withdrawal of your insurance by your insurance company. It also guaranteed your right to appeal.
- 80-85% of the US Population will continue without any changes in their insurance under ObamaCare. Most employees have insurance through their employers and this insurance is likely to continue after ObamaCare is fully implemented.
- There will be “winners” and “losers” no matter what changes we make. We will need to continue to be informed as the changes are implemented to see what things work and what things don’t. More to come……
