Obamacare: Cost Vs. Care

      Obamacare was created to provide those without health insurance quality care at a reasonable cost and to revise the healthcare economical system. The question is: will it succeed? According to Scott Gottlieb from Real ClearMarkets, the developers of Obamacare made crucial mistakes causing the consumer to pay expensive costs for mediocre care.

      Scott Gottlieb is a practicing physician who once served on the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He compares Obamacare with late 1990s health insurance schemes, but states Obamacare will be much more expensive. Apparently, the insurers are going to charge the client higher prices for “product,” and instead of reimbursing the client with the profit the insurer will receive, the kickbacks will go to the government. “Health plans are better off aiming high, and owing money back, then getting underwater.” The government only gains and does not take part in the debt. What does this mean for the consumer? They will pay higher costs, even though the “product” cost less than charged. Another point made was physicians have the right to accept or decline Obamacare. It appears that Obamacare will pay less than the standard insurance, thus more likely for physicians to decline clients with Obamacare. This occurred with Medicaid and had a huge effect on patients' health and costs. Scott goes on to discuss how it will effect those with previous illnesses, how business's insurances will coincide with Obamacare, and how the cost of Obamacare prices are higher than initially expected, thus breaking the budget.

      As a professional in the health care system, I have my own conclusions on Obamacare. When reading this blog, I must admit I got loss in the language. For those without a business or economic degree, it is overwhelming to read. Scott Gottlieb is writing essentially to those future Obamacare clients and physicians, even though his style of writing does not reflect his audience. Why did I select the article even though the wording was obscure? Because of its significance and educational value, providing information in comparative form. After reading this article, more concerns were acknowledged about Obamacare. It is alarming that people have only a few options to select insurers, hence allowing the insurers to have premium costs. Our society survives on options and comparative rates, so why are we limited to our insurers? Physicians opting to decline Obamacare clients will drastically effect the health care system. It creates a large wait list for a the physicians who do accept Obamacare or may cause clients to go to the emergency room instead, either way delaying client care. Obamacare was to help the people who could not afford health insurance, but with these limited choices, inflated costs, and delay in care, it appears that the system is already failing. Obamacare was to revolutionize the health care system, but it appears it may be one of its greatest downfalls.

Site:

Gottlieb, Scott.“Obamacare Insurance Plan Will Be Bare Bones-- And Expensive.” Real Clear Markets.Web.5 March 2013.
http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2013/03/05/obamacare_insurance_plans_will_be_bare_bones_--_and_expensive_100176.html