The Affordable Care Act (ie. Obamacare) is
one of the most important in our nation’s history. Yet for all the
misinformation and misdirected negativity from the Republican leadership, the
most ironic fact is that it was their idea in the first place.
It is no mystery that Obamacare was closely
modeled after Romneycare: a private-sector, free-market solution that encourages
individuals to take more responsibility for their personal lives. Before that,
the individual mandate was proposed by Republican Congressional leaders as an
alternative to President Clinton’s single-payer option. Before that, President
Reagan ensured access to healthcare regardless of one’s ability to pay via the
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
Yet for some reason, Republican leaders
today are doing everything in their power to defund this law. They are even
willing to shut down the government over it. We deserve better.
“Competition
is a good thing”, and with the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured,
under-insured, and insured will now have the choice of multiple insurance
companies who will be competing for their business. This, in turn, will lead to
lower premiums, lower costs, greater efficiency, better care, and an improved
industry.
With just 5 days until the open enrollment
process begins, it is crucial that people educate themselves and find out how
the Affordable Care Act help them.
