Is health insurance reform possible? Health insurance reform is a troublesome topic for the Obama administration. For many conservatives, the divisive issue is a blow to fiscal responsibility and, should it be made mandatory, it would disobey the Constitution. Thus, lawmakers are seeking to make sure this does not happen. In many states, politicians are enacting measures to prevent such a law.
Since Republican Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts, the Democrats have been plagued with the threat of Republican revolt within Congress. The win allowed Senate Republicans to filibuster, essentially, stopping health care reform in its tracks. Now, the issue, of whether mandatory health insurance is Constitutional or not is bringing Republicans nationwide to take action.
Indeed, health insurance reform is looking bleak for Democrats. Before the Massachusetts upheaval, Democrats were in serious talks to get the reform into something passable as legislation. Talks were among Democrats only, and proved to be an arduous task. However, they were close to an agreement when traditionally democratic Massachusetts and former home to Ted Kennedy changed everything.
The issue at hand has to do with the possibility that health care reform will mean that everyone must get health insurance. Politicians on both sides take issue with making all Americans subscribe to health insurance whether it is government run or private. The Supreme Court would likely not uphold any health insurance policy that is mandatory.
As many as 34 states have so far filed amendments to their state constitution to ban any mandatory health insurance, despite the fact that health insurance reform is rather fragile and will not get any further in Congress if it is made mandatory.
The issue, of course, highlights the growing discontent with Obama administration. Most citizens are worried more about job security, the economy and education rather than free health insurance. In fact, in a recent poll health insurance reform ranked fifth in issues that most troubled Americans. As a further indication of how touchy the topic is, Obama himself merely glossed over the issue during his State of the Union Address on Wednesday. Instead, he focused on the economy and a series of stimulus packages to bring more jobs and economic stimulus to America.
It is not all bad news however. That Republicans are making such swift moves to ban mandatory health insurance indicates that the issue is still on the table and very much viable. As it stands, bills passed by both the House and Senate would impose a penalty on those people who do not have health insurance.
This proposed penalty would initially help offset the cost of health care reform especially in insuring those who have preexisting conditions and are considered more expensive to health insurance providers.
It remains to be seen how Obama and fellow Democrats will proceed with the legislation. Thus far, opposition has rocked Washington making it extremely difficult to get any kind of health insurance plan passed. The administration signaled yesterday that it may turn from reforming health to reforming the medical insurance industry. Affordable health insurance may be a lot further away than previously thought.
Written By Lani Shadduck
HULIQ.com
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