Published: October 30, 2009 05:32 pm      

Learn the facts about health care reform

I am writing this letter as a call to action for all Americans: learn the facts about President Obama’s health care reform so that we can make a change to the current state of health care. With so many rumors going around, it is hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Therefore, I would like to address some of the controversy surrounding the health care reform.

First, many people believe that with the new health care policy older adults will not receive the care they need. This is not true. The policy will actually help seniors by extending new protections for Medicare and offering services to help seniors be better informed regarding their health care decisions. Even AARP, one of the nation’s leading advocates for senior citizens, supports the health care reform.

There is also a rumor that the new health care plan will take away a person’s right to have private insurance. This also is not true. This is how it will work: a group of insurance companies will come together in what’s called the exchange. This is where people will shop for their insurance. There will not only be more options, but it will put more control into the hands of the American people by letting them choose and compare insurances. Additionally, if you are not one of the 46.3 million uninsured, and want to keep your current insurance, you can. President Obama will ensure that private insurance companies are held to a higher standard. Over the last three years, 12 million people were denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. President Obama wants to change this.

Another misconception of the health care plan is that it will be costly and add to America’s growing debt. The reality is that President Obama’s plan will actually save money. Currently, Americans spend more than $2 trillion dollars on health care each year. In fact, nearly a million people file bankruptcy every year due to medical expenses. The new policy for health care reform won’t add to the deficit at all. It will require a short-term investment of roughly $100 billion dollars and would be completely paid for over 10 years.

Currently, the insurance companies make almost all the decisions where your health care is concerned. They decide whether or not to provide you coverage, what doctors you can see, which procedures are covered, and what medicines you can take. This is why we need a change in the current state of health care. It is every American’s responsibility to obtain the facts. Do research, become informed, and discover the truth about the health care reform.

Jennifer M. Fuller, RN

Princeton