Federal Health Policy (Essay Sample)

Federal Health Policy – Obamacare
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In an attempt to have every American insured, Obama, American President, with the aid of Congress signed into to law the Obamacare health policy. It has increasingly become expensive for patients to visit hospitals of their choice with medical costs being cited as the leading reason for bankruptcy within the country. Therefore, Obama’s health care policy goes a long way in ensuring that citizens are in a position to obtain quality and affordable treatment at any time.
The government has urged its citizens to take up medical insurance cover at a subsidized cost whereby a large part of the insurance premium is covered by the government. The subsidized amount is expected to be set aside from the national savings thus less disturbance to the national budget. Families no longer have to worry about medical costs since the insurance plan is set to bear the burden with minimal contribution from the affected families (Gerston, 2007).
The Obamacare health care policy has two arms, that of Medicaid and Medicare. The former caters for citizens who are on jobs without any insurance cover, unemployed people and also for the poor individuals. The federal government and states have collaboration for which they pay for persons under Medicaid. Individuals above the age of 65 are usually incorporated under Medicare whereby their insurance cover is met by the Federal government (Gerston, 2007).
The Obamacare healthcare policy raises considerable issues of federalism. This is particularly the case since the federal government has to implement the policy through its states. The federal health care system only subsidizes the insurance plans for its citizens but leaves an individual choice with an option of obtaining the cover (Hudak, 2011).
However, issues of federalism arise since the federal government expects the states to implement the policy in an attempt to insure all citizens. This may not be possible in all states due to financial constraints facing such states. Consequently, a state lacks its sovereignty whereby it has to act according to the wishes of the federal government (Hudak, 2011).
Furthermore, the federal government could start issuing grants selectively to states that comply with the Obama healthcare policy. This is against the American constitution whereby the federal should avoid biasness when offering monetary assistance to states. The health care policy has two facets whereby individuals are left to exercise their discretion as whether or not to obtain the policy. On the other hand, states face the risk of penalties if the locals fail to obtain the subsidized insurance covers (Hudak, 2011).
The Obamacare has a number of pros and cons as a result of its implementation across states in the country. The papers explores some of the advantages and disadvantages of America adopting the healthcare policy. Consequently, the federal government could work on resolving the shortcomings resulting to a better healthcare system in the United States.
An advantage is that through provision of subsidized insurance cover it cuts health care costs for millions of families in the country. Moreover, it makes preventive care free for all people in the country. Patients get treated before their illness gets beyond containable levels that serves to eliminate expensive emergency room expenses (Hudak, 2011).
It also requires all insurance covers to cater for persons suffering from mental health, long-term diseases and addiction to drugs and substance. Insurance firms are now compelled to cover this class of persons who initially went uncovered raising their medical costs. Patients with such conditions faced paying higher premiums or even being denied insurance cover.
Affordable Care Act of 2010 eliminates lifetime and yearly hindrances on insurance covers. Children till 26 years of age can be covered by their parent’s insurance schemes. Consequently, the number of young people who were previously uncovered has increased double fold which is a positive move in the health sector. Furthermore, it has increased profits for insurance firms since younger people are generally considered healthy with minimal chances of falling sick (Haugen & Musser, 2012).
On the other hand, the health policy is subject to a number of limitations. First, a large number of people risk losing their individual insurance schemes. Most of the private insurance plans fall void of the requirements of healthcare Act. It is expensive for persons with cancelled insurance covers to replace them since it calls for the covering of services such as paternity which is not a necessity for all the individuals (Haugen & Musser, 2012).
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