| President Barack Obama signed the bill for Health | | | | that a number of individuals can band together and |
| Care Reform on March 23, 2010. The bill will not only | | | | purchase a health insurance plan for less than that of |
| change the way Americans pay for health care, but | | | | an individual. |
| also how they pay for insurance and utilize America's | | | | Who benefits the most? |
| health brokers. There may be a lot of information that | | | | At this point, it is estimated that nearly 25 million |
| is unclear to the average American about the Health | | | | individuals will likely shop affordable health coverage |
| Care Reform Act, but there is one clear message: | | | | through the exchange. It is estimated that nearly 80% |
| Everyone in the United States will have health | | | | of these individuals will be eligible for financial aid. The |
| insurance. It will mandate that nearly every citizen | | | | Health Care Reform Act will benefit those who do not |
| acquire "minimal essential coverage" for both the | | | | have healthcare plans, as well as those who are |
| individual as well as dependents thereof. They can | | | | having a difficult time paying for their current health |
| either obtain employee insurance through the | | | | insurance. Also, America's health brokers will benefit in |
| workplace or through other avenues that will be made | | | | the fact that many more Americans will be obtaining |
| available through America's health brokers. | | | | health coverage, and the difference of the balance |
| "Other" avenues | | | | that cannot be afforded will be paid by the |
| For those who are self-employed, unemployed or | | | | government. |
| work for an employer who does not offer health | | | | Many different countries have been working with a |
| insurance, they will be required, by the year 2014, to | | | | socialized health care plan for many years (France, |
| have some form of healthcare. If not, there may be a | | | | England, Canada), and it has been a very successful |
| tax penalty assessed. The proposal that is currently up | | | | means of providing healthcare plan to the entire |
| for vote is a state to state exchange in which the | | | | populace. Every citizen is granted the opportunity to |
| government will assist in the setup. The exchange will | | | | receive the treatment that is necessary to live a |
| be funded by the government to offer medical plans | | | | fundamentally healthy life. It also relieves the stress |
| within each state. If the state does not create the | | | | that goes along with wondering how the health needs |
| exchange, then the government has the right to step in | | | | will be taken care of without an umbrella or assistance. |
| and open one. Primarily, the exchange is a means to | | | | Restructuring America's health plan will not be an easy |
| provide anyone who is not part of a large corporation | | | | task, for there are many issues that need care and |
| an affordable health plan. This includes businesses of | | | | attention. There is not an ideal means of resolving an |
| less than 100 people, those who are self-employed, | | | | issue of such a grand scale, but the Health Care |
| those who are unemployed or those who are retired | | | | Reform Act is certainly a step in the right direction in |
| but not yet eligible for Medicare. Many of America's | | | | the terms of providing a health medical plan for all |
| health brokers will offer plans, but the most effective | | | | Americans and allowing America's health brokers to |
| ones will be group health insurance plans. This means | | | | offer one. |