Health Care Reform

Government's role in health care has been steadily growing since Medicare and Medicaid were established 45 years ago. Now Congress has presented a Health Care Bill to aid uninsured and self-employed people so they would be able to purchase insurance through state-based programs. This aid would be available to individuals and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level. The bill would expand coverage to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured. Individuals and families who make between 100 percent - 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and want to purchase their own health insurance on an exchange are eligible for aid. They cannot be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid and cannot be covered by an employer. President Obama is trying to fulfilling a promise he made in his presidential election campaign to provide health care for all American citizens. President Obama promised the American people, "the security and stability that's missing today." He states, "If you don't have insurance, you'll finally be able to afford insurance." Sadly President Obama can not pass a law without Congress's or the Justices' approval, neither can he propose a law to Congress. The bill has to go through the House of Representative as it states in Article I, section 7, that "all the bills for raising revenue must originate in the House in order to be passed into law." The House of Representatives proposed the law in the summer of 2009 has been through months of fierce debate in Washington. President Obama admits to the existence of disagreements, and he said there was "widespread agreement on the urgent need to reform a broken system" and finally hold health insurance companies accountable. The bill passed the House but was sent back by the Senate who disapproved of some slight glitches found in the bill. Finally, after more than a year Congress passed a health care reform bill on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/03/23/VI2010032301705.html
(The signing of the Health Care Bill)

The bill came to Obama on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. President Obama sat at a desk surrounded by congressional leaders and some of the people whose problems he highlighted in speeches. He used 22 pens to sign his signature. Obama was finally be able to make insurance more affordable by providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, reducing premium costs for millions of families and small business owners. Obama signed the bill, it was checked off by the justices and it is now a law. President Obama is loyal to the promises he makes.

Sources

Nolen, John. "Health Care Reform Bill Summary: A Look At What's in the Bill - Political Hotsheet - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html.

"Obama Signs Health-care Bill - Washingtonpost.com." Washingtonpost.com - Nation, World, Technology and Washington Area News and Headlines. 23 Mar. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/03/23/VI2010032301705.html.