| It seems that the more discussion there is in | | | | However, it is a widely held view that many new |
| regard to health care reform, the more discussion | | | | homeowners simply had little knowledge of the |
| there is in regard to health care reform cons. | | | | terms of their loans and/or those who held the |
| Undoubtedly, there has been a need for some | | | | knowledge (lenders, appraisers, originators etc) |
| type of health care over haul. Now that health | | | | failed to do an appropriate job in educating or |
| care reform is a reality many Americans are | | | | even attempting to educate potential new |
| faced with determining the pros and cons and | | | | homeowners. Many times an individual may be |
| how they will be affected beyond simple access | | | | "covered" by an insurance carrier. However, in an |
| to health care. In this article, we'll discuss different | | | | attempt to have low monthly premiums, the |
| cons or concerns by those opposing and | | | | individual may choose to have a high deductible. |
| supporting health care reform and focus on the | | | | A monthly premium of $100 or less sounds |
| "biggest con of all". | | | | fantastic until a major health issue or accident |
| Pros typically go hand in hand with cons. However, | | | | arises and the individual must come up with |
| based on numerous emails and request we'll focus | | | | thousands in order to meet a deductible. Bear in |
| on the biggest con associated with health care | | | | mind that a car accident causing the need for |
| reform and provide a follow up article addressing | | | | major medical work can cost $3,000-$5,000 per |
| pros (aside from the following couple of pros | | | | day in hospital stay alone (this does not include |
| reasons for a reform). | | | | the actual surgery to repair the damage). In most |
| 1) As of 2008 there were more than forty million | | | | cases individuals have no idea how much a hospital |
| Americans who were uninsured. | | | | stay will run them nor do they have any idea of |
| 2) A 2009 American journal of medicine study | | | | the bankruptcy statistics. |
| revealed that sixty two percent of 2007 | | | | There are certainly other cons associated with |
| bankruptcies were the related to medical | | | | health care reform. Some include longer wait |
| expenses. | | | | times for individuals to receive diagnosis due to an |
| Obviously with so many being uninsured and filing | | | | increased number of insured individuals. However, |
| bankruptcy, one would say that there is definitely | | | | the "pro" ponents of health care reform would |
| a need for health care reform. However, when | | | | say that this opens the door for more jobs. |
| we take a closer look, we see different ways | | | | Other cons include the growth of the federal |
| that the change will affect us as well as shed a | | | | deficit and increase in taxes we pay. As well as it |
| light on deeper issues. First, the forty plus million | | | | being difficult to administer because it is too hard |
| uninsured individuals could be somewhat tainted in | | | | to determine what type of coverage should be |
| that these figures likely include undocumented | | | | the minimum guaranteed. |
| immigrants. Second, of the 2007 bankruptcies | | | | There are many more cons to reform. However, |
| (sixty two percent of which were related to | | | | the one that we find most troubling is the |
| medical expenses) over sixty percent of the | | | | knowledge of what an individual will receive in their |
| individuals had medical insurance! | | | | newly gained policy. Let's not walk down the path |
| That leads us to one of the biggest cons and one | | | | of mandating insurance for all individuals without |
| that should be reviewed very closely. That is | | | | mandating certain information that must be |
| insurance ignorance (being insured without the | | | | shared with the end consumer. The statistics |
| knowledge of how your plan works). Sixty | | | | speak for themselves. More than half of the |
| percent of 2007 bankruptcies were medical | | | | bankruptcies of 2007 were medical related and |
| related and sixty percent of those had medical | | | | more than half of those individuals had coverage. |
| insurance. The problem here is quite simple in that | | | | It may be possible to help individuals find credit |
| individuals securing health coverage are doing so | | | | relief prior to their downfall. However, it will start |
| without truly knowing what their coverage means. | | | | with the "reformers" implementing health plans |
| Does that sound familiar? How about the recent | | | | and health education based on the statistics that |
| housing implosion? The housing crisis stemmed | | | | we currently have at our fingertips. |
| from many different contributors. | | | | |