U.S. Health Care Reform Bill: Good, Bad and Uncertain

In some ways I agree with H.R. 4872 Health and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. I am also concerned because any U. S. public policy change is hard, painful and costs money to someone, even when it saves money in the larger sense. Regarding United States government policies this usually means folks like my husband and I: Middle-income America. However, if this U. S. Health Care Reform Bill plays-out in reality as well as most of the legislation reads, it will directly affect me and my family in more good ways than bad.

Title II - Subtitle A: Education - known as the SAFRA Act - All Sections: Show Us the Money

On March 22, 2010, the CBS online news article "College Aid Reform Passes with Health Bill," shared California Democrat Rep. George Miller's report that the SAFRA Act is a great opportunity to help college students' costs without passing the financial burden onto taxpayers. Again, I am cautiously optimistic, considering my daughter has had her Stafford Loans change hands among financial institutions every year for the last three years.

The delays in processing through each new financial institution have made her first week of each college year a ridiculous dance. She is one of many thousands spending time, while her college spends tremendous money in overhead at the Bursar's office juggling all this too. Whether the minor changes forced by Republican legislators in the March 25, 2010 vote, time will tell.

Title II - Subtitle B: Coverage - Section 2304: Good & Bad of Insurance Reforms

U.S. Health Care Reform Bill Section 2304 gives me peace of mind in continuing medical insurance coverage, without the threat of losing insurance due to preexisting conditions. However, the January 1, 2014 delay in coverage beginning for adults with preexisting conditions will benefit from this section of the bill is also a concern. I am grateful for the equal opportunity to equal access. On the other hand, I am anxious for family members who need new health insurance right now.

Chronic asthma and acute allergies are health conditions my daughter and I have always lived with. We manage them well with medication and lifestyle habits like never smoking and watching our weight. Even though we have not cost our insurance a great amount of money for these medical issues, just the fact that they are chronic has always hung over our family.

I have other, more costly, medical conditions as well, which likely will remain with me always to some degree or another. These issues do require more help from my medical insurance with repetitive expensive tests and high priced medications that do not have generic equivalents. Section 2304 of the U. S. Health Care Reform Bill immediately eliminates my fear of receiving a letter from the medical insurance company that I have reached my lifetime maximum.

I am also relieved that my doctors will not be obligated to refer me to specialists affiliated in ownership together. Not having this freedom available to me has caused unnecessary anxiety, tests and cost to me and my insurance company in the past.

However, some of Section 2304 concerns me. My grown children stand to earn college degrees by 2011-12, and hopefully gainfully employed in careers with good health insurance coverage. Since Section 2304 of the bill does not take effect until January 1, 2014, does this mean they will be denied coverage for preexisting conditions between 2011 and 2014? Three and a half years can be a lifetime to wait for medical coverage for those with preexisting conditions, and the delay in guaranteed coverage for adults hardly seems to be taking care of our own in most need.

Additionally, my health issues require at least a dozen pills per day, with some not having generic options to cut costs. My insurance company has refused to offset cost of an arthritis drug which is my last hope of remission for debilitating arthritis event I've battled over a year, in spite of exhaustive proactive measures. Even though Section 2304 guarantees coverage under preexisting conditions, I wonder about such prescription issues.

The Bottom Line

Dr. Clyde Yancy, President of the American Heart Association was reported in the Heart.org article "Heart Groups Applaud Passing . . ., " by Robert Lowes and Shelley Wood on March 22, 2010, as saying that the health reform bill is "not a perfect package," but if it's passed, it's a start in the right direction and "a healthier country." But if we keep health care status quo, the divide between those with and those without insurance would just get worse "and lead to more suffering."

I agree with Dr. Yancy. We have to start somewhere. If President Obama signs the bill into law, we have no choice but to accept the good, the bad, and the uncertainties it will bring to all Americans. Like every other citizen, my husband and I hope the best and plan for the worst.