Having good health is a blessing that most of us take for granted and usually don’t even give it a thought until we begin to feel ill. Good health is something that money cannot buy and many ill people would willingly swop all their money and possessions to be able to live a full and active life. In England we are extremely lucky that medical care is provided free on the National Health Service. This is funded by people paying National Insurance stamps which are deducted from their wages together with Tax. Anyone can visit a Doctor or be admitted to Hospital free without having to worry about how much it will cost. This Health Scheme is the envy of the world and in America President Barack Obama is trying hard to pass a historic healthcare reform bill. If he succeeds it will mean most Americans would have some form of health insurance.
Healthcare insurance in the United States is provided mainly by employers who usually choose which insurance company to negotiate with. Although an employer may pay for health insurance both for the employee and their families, the employee may have to make a contribution towards it. For people who do not work such as the elderly, disabled and children there are Government funded programs such as Medicare which covers people over 65 years and the disabled. Then there is Medicaid for people on low incomes, pregnant women and children. For low-income children there is the State Children’s Health Insurance program. Veterans returning from the wars are cared for by the Veterans Administration in medical centres and clinics. Some people take out their own private health care insurance but many Americans cannot afford private insurance or do not qualify to be insured. Insurance companies will not cover people who already have poor health or who might be too old to qualify. Because of this 15% of the population have no health insurance and may only seek medical treatment when it is too late. Care is sometimes provided by a Charity for people who are uninsured and in certain States all hospitals must accept patients for emergency medical treatment whether they are insured are not.
Healthcare reform in America will make a huge change to the millions that are uninsured but opposition republicans are against it saying legislation will be too expensive. When a vote was taken on Christmas Eve the bill was adopted by 60 votes to 39 but the battle goes on as Congress still has to vote to merge two different bills.
Healthcare Insurance in the United States is provided by many different insurance companies and many people cannot afford to be insured. If President Barack Obama succeeds in a new healthcare reform bill millions of uninsured Americans will have some form of health insurance.