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Health Care Reform

The health care reform debate sparks political fervor across America and party lines. Very few issues stir debate more than health care. Given the huge unemployment rate and the high cost of health care, many families are facing a scary economic future should an unforeseen health issue arise. Specifically, the health care law recently enacted (referred to often as “Obama Care”) will certainly be front and center during the 2012 election year. Heath care reform supposedly makes health care “more affordable, holds insurers more accountable, expands coverage to all Americans and makes our health system sustainable” (“Health Care Reform,” 2011). The health care law is going to provide health insurance to more than “30 million people, primarily by expanding Medicaid and providing federal subsidies to help lower- and middle-income Americans buy private coverage” (“Health Care Reform,” 2011).

What does America health care reform require? Many politicians are not in agreement that reform is needed and those politicians who do think reform is needed, cannot seem to reach an agreement on what needs to be done. The new law seems to have created confusion. “The law put an end to the worst abuses of the insurance industry by implementing a Patient’s Bill of Rights that protects consumers through policies like prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and making lifetime dollar limits on coverage illegal” (“Reducing Costs, Protecting Consumers: The Affordable Care Act on the One Year Anniversary of the Patient’s Bill of Rights,” 2011). There are millions of people who have been turned down by health insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition. Babies, young adults, parents, men, women and children have all experienced rejection from health insurers. The law also protects consumers by cracking “down on unreasonable health insurance premium increases and ensures that at least 80% of premium dollars are spent on quality health care, not administrative costs like profits, CEO salaries and marketing” (Reducing Costs, Protecting Consumers: The Affordable Care Act on the One Year Anniversary of the Patient’s Bill of Rights). Some politicians agree with these concepts and others do not.

The issues that are under debate by the Republicans and Democrats are the following: Republicans argue that control over health care is the beginning of broader control over American’s personal liberty; Democrats completely disagree. Many Republicans also believe that if a person does not have health care insurance, that is a personal choice. Most Republicans also do not want higher taxes to help pay for health care coverage. The fundamental question is whether all Americans should be entitled to health care; and if so, how should the care be managed? and who should pay for it?

Many divergent opinions exist about the need for health care reform and the extent of the reform. Some people believe that those who do not have health insurance or cannot afford it do not necessarily deserve a free ride because these people do not work or are lazy. On the other hand, there are those who believe that every American deserves to have health care no matter what the person’s circumstances may be. The theory goes so far as to advocate that if someone gets sick and requires a lot of medical attention, the person should not have to go broke to get the attention and medicine he/she needs.Unfortunately, the health care reform law is so complicated that it is difficult for many people to fully understand. While more and more details of the health care reform law come out, many Republicans who “opposed the overhaul might end up pulling their punches. Health care reform did not poll well, but some of the details do — setting up Republicans to miss out on hitting home their message, while Democrats eye vindication” (“Why are Republicans against health care reform as outlines by Obama?”, 2011) “Some Democrats hope the gradual rollout of the health care law details mirror the rise of Medicare in the 1960s, when the now-popular program faced backlash” (Stickkings, 2009). The overly simplistic debate is not whether American’s deserve health care but how such health care should be paid for. Political leaders on both sides of the aisle realize this is a political hot potato for the election in 2012.

There are many states that are “pursuing ambitious health reforms that go far beyond the Obama administration’s signature legislative accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act” (Kliff, 2011). Oregon is one of the states that is trying to go even farther than Obama’s law. Oregon passed its own plan. Oregon’s plan changes how “it pays doctors and eventually ends with allowing public employees to enroll in Medicaid, the federal insurance program for low-income Americans”. The main problem with this plan so far is that they need many waivers to be signed. If the waivers are signed, the plan should work out great Oregon says. There are many other states that are going a lot farther with Obama’s plan. “The Affordable Care Act’s main goal was to expand coverage,” Kitzhaber said (Kliff, 2011).

Republicans are pushing for repeal of the health care law (e.g. “Obama Care”). Democrats are concerned about the scope of the new law. President Obama got some good news when he found out that the “National Center for Health Statistics reported that one million more young adults got health insurance in the first three months of 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act” (Clift, 2011). The one million adults that now have health care comes from Obama’s decision to allow families to have their children remain on their policy until age 26. Obama’s reason for allowing kids to remain on their parents’ policy is because “young people have been especially hard-hit by the recession, with their unemployment rates jumping higher than older workers, the expectation was that the number of uninsured in their age group would have risen” (Clift, 2011).

In short, health care will be a political issue in 2012. All political candidates are well aware that elections may very well hang in the balance.

Work Cited

Clift, E. (September 22, 2011). Obama’s Good News on Health Insurance. Retrieved

October 25, 2011. From http://www.thedailybeast.com/article

s/2011/09/22/health- care-reform-news-one-million-more-young-ad ults-

insured.html

Health Care Reform. (2011). Retrieved October 24, 2011. From http://topics.nyt

imes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insuranc

e_and_managed_care/health_care_reform/index.html

Kliff, S. (October 16, 2011). Some states seek flexibility to push health-care overhaul

further. Retrieved October 25, 2011. From http://www.washingtonpost.com/

national/health-science/some-states-seeking-flexibility-to-push-health-reforms-

further/2011/10/14/gIQALX7VpL_story.html

Reducing Costs, Protecting Consumers: The Affordable Care Act on the One Year

Anniversary of the Patient’s Bill of Rights. (2011). Retrieved October 24, 2011,

From http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/reports/patients-bill-of-

rights09232011a.html

Stickings, M. (September 1, 2009). The Truth About Republicans (and Health-Care

Reform). Retrieved October 25, 2011. From http://themoderatevoice.com

/45029/the-truth-a bout-republicans-and-health-care-reform/

Why are Republicans against health care reform as outlined by Obama?. (2011).

Retrieved October 25, 2011. From http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_Republi

cans_against_health_care_reform_as_outlined_by_Obama

ben

The Godfather

My how time flies. It seems like only yesterday that my dad pushed me around in a very cozy stroller. Now, at the ripe old age of 21, I want time to go a little slower. Bennett S. Keller (or Ben, BK, the “man”, the godfather or just “dad”). proudly parades around as Sammie Keller’s dad. In fact, the truth be known, Sammie Keller should be known as Ben Keller’s little girl.

My dad spends most of his days as the managing partner for Lathrop Gage law firm. He also teaches in the graduate tax program at Washington University in St. Louis. And yes, he plays a little golf just about every day. Most importantly though, my dad takes an interest in everything I do.

Bennett S. Keller celebrated his fifty-second birthday this year. He acts more like a twenty five year old than a fifty year old. His parents worked in the grocery business. Even though they worked a lot, they always made time for their kids. As my dad tells it, he was not “born of the manor”. He excelled in sports and getting in trouble. My grandparents would clearly say that Ben was far better at causing trouble than any other activity. Somehow, to the amazement of his parents, my dad did very well at school. He chose law according to my grandparents because he argued about everything. As my grandfather would say, if you practice something long enough, you are bound to get good at it. From experience, I can confirm that my dad can argue (and yell too).

My dad graduated from the University of Missouri law school. If you ask him, he will tell you that his greatest accomplishment from at law school was not making the law review or winning awards for oral argument. He will tell you he is most proud of winning the intramural softball championship. He still shares the championship pin to just about everyone.

My dad works very hard. When I was a kid he would always come home and play with me and then go back to work. He made partner very early in his career. Today, he is responsible for many employees. His main area of expertise is corporate law. I must admit that I do not understand most of his conversations, but they do sound interesting.

He treats the people who work for him very well. My dad buys ice cream shakes for his staff. The St. Louis Countian, a St. Louis legal newspaper, ran an entire article on him because of his approach to motivating employees. Many of the people who work for my dad have worked for him for many years. He has his moments I am sure, but he always worries about his “people”. He approved an indoor soccer team even though he does not play. Interestingly, he shows up and cheers the team on. He plays a little. He is not that bad (for an old dude).

I attended one of my dad’s classes at Washington University. It felt very strange watching “my” dad teach students only a little older than I am. He is quite funny and smart.

He hardly ever misses any of my stuff. He travels all over with me no matter where or when. He adjusts his schedule even if he has to work on the trip. He takes me on business trips as well and proudly introduces me to his clients, friends and employees.

His greatest wish is to play golf at Augusta National (home of the Masters) in Georgia. There is a catch though; he will not play there without me. I am very lucky that my dad takes such an interest in me. He always tells me that he is the lucky one. I guess we are both pretty lucky.

As for my dad’s friends, lets put it this way: his best friends are dogs. It is uncanny how every dog loves my dad. He always leaves me messages that I am a good dog. I never said he wasn’t a little weird too.

Bennett S. Keller is my best friend. There is no one in the world with whom I would rather hangout with. It doesn’t matter if we are running in the park, golfing, walking around New York, or just talking; my dad and I have a great time. Everyone who knows my dad loves him. In short, I am very proud of him. Do not get me wrong; I still give my dad trouble. Any self-respecting kid would too.