Health Care Legislation Has Holes, and I'm Falling Through Them All

President Obama has signed the new health care bill into law. Even though I was against this health care reform, I can appreciate that there are pros and cons to both sides. Without a crystal ball, it is hard to say what the future is going to bring. With confidence, I can say that I see there being many amendments to this bill in the future.

From my understanding of this new bill, uninsured Americans are going to be the ones most affected. Those who have insurance now will only see minimal changes. I do not believe early reports that the tax burden will not fall on the average American. I believe we will all eventually be held responsible and have to pay with higher taxes. For the time being, the tax burden will come down on the rich or those making over $250,000 a year. Right now my family and I fall under the large loop of middle class Americans.

When looking into the bill a little further, I was surprised to hear that our children can stay on our insurance up to their 27^th birthdays. What if our children have families of their own? Will we still be required to insure them and their dependents? I look at my little monsters and think about insuring them for another 24 to 26 years; it is hard to wrap your mind around something so far in the future.

I am personally affected in two way by this new bill.

First, my children have health insurance through their father. Unfortunately his employer does not acknowledge domestic partners, so I go without. Now with this new health care bill, I must pay for insurance. If I chose to not purchase insurance, I will have to pay a fine. According to CNN, "Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or face a fine of up to $695 or 2.5 percent of their income."

Two, I have been going to the same doctor since I was three years old and he is wonderful. He allows me to pay out of pocket for any services needed. Because he is also taking care of my children, he often does not charge me office visit fees. Even without insurance, I get the care I need at a price I can afford. It may not be traditional, but it works for my family.

Right now my children and my fiance have United Health Care for insurance. For a family of three, we pay just under $400 a month, and the cost of health care for us consumes a large part of our budget every month. I am very concerned that our premiums will go up. If the cost goes up, I am not sure how we will be able to make ends meet each month. Currently we utilize United Health Care's "out of network" plan. This plan allows me to take my children to the doctor of my choice. There is a lot of speculation going around that we soon will not be able to choose our own providers. I am not willing to give up our doctor.

We are hoping to have another baby in our near future. I am very apprehensive to how this new bill will play into that. Will the baby be able to go on his or her father's insurance or will I be responsible for the birth? If I cannot afford to purchase insurance, even with utilizing an insurance exchange program or with tax credit from the government, would I be eligible for Medicaid? I most likely will not be eligible, and I'll still be left without insurance.

This new bill is lined with holes, and I feel as if I am falling through each one of them.

I am extremely concerned with the long-term effects this bill will have on my family. As much as I hear about the health care reform, I am still left with a lot of questions. I almost feel like it is going to be a long period of trial and error until the government figures out what does and does not work. We are already responsible for having insurance on our home and our vehicles. What is next? Do you think we will be required to purchase pet insurance? After all, pet bills can be very costly and taxing on both the individual and the community.

Source: CNN.com