Last week, I shared my thoughts on the health care reform bill. I view it in the same way I view the new Credit Card Act — the premise behind these changes are great, but what is the reality? It remains to be seen. Given how critics have reacted to the bill, with a vocal segment being up in arms about it, who knows just how much of this legislation could potentially evolve over time?
While we all would love to lower health care costs across the board, we’re still far from that reality despite steps being taken to get there. I actually foresee my health insurance premiums going up, no thanks to this new bill! I’m going to be one of those unlucky small business owners who’ll be hit by the wrong side of this bill but at least insurance companies can’t reject me for having a precondition or two (a common concern as we all grow older).
Just to clarify what’s in that health care reform bill, I’d like to present this handy visual of the comprehensive details and timeline covering the changes, and how they’ll impact our money, our health insurance and our lives. If you’ve got weak eyes like I do, then click on the image below or this link and make sure to zoom in for a better look.
Infographic by HealthInsuranceProviders.com: Compare health insurance options from many different providers!
Keep this nifty graphic tucked away in your bookmarks as a helpful reference!
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s definitely a very handy infographic – pretty much sums up the health care reform in an easy to read format. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for including Money Crashers in your round up!
The health care bill is very hard to comprehend, but your article summarizes the issues very well. While consumers are smart, we still need a cheat sheet to help us understand all the issues since our lives are so busy and focused on many priorities, including making ends meet. Thank for this useful information. Keep it coming. I also just started a blog (Consumermiser.com) to help increase the useful information out there!
I oppose the law that was recently enacted and hope that it will be repealed in large part. However, I strongly believe that we need health insurance reform. The current system is a disaster. My view is that it is a sign that our political system is to a large extent (but not entirely!) broken that the two parties cannot work together to produce something that just about everybody could support. I also think that the economic crisis made it hard to get something like this done at this time. People are not in a listening mood when they are worried about losing their jobs.
Rob
The real world impact to me of Obamacare is not pretty. My company will take a large write-down to cover some of the costs of these changes, which will result in some layoffs. They’ve already sent a letter to employees indicating our health care insurance premiums will increase faster over the next several years than they would without Obamacare, and the employees will have to pick up the difference out of their own pockets. They’ve also told us that our current plan will be considered a “Cadillac” plan and we’ll be subject to the 40% excise tax. They will not pay for this tax. It will be passed through to the employees, so we’ll either have to pay the tax or reduce our coverage. Retirees will definitely lose their drug benefits. The company is thinking about dropping health care coverage altogether for retirees and dumping them into one of the exchanges. I’m one of the Obamacare losers. Ain’t socialism great?
@ The Biz of Life: That’s really unfortunate but that’s definitely a con to the health care bill.
Cool infographic! I’m still under my parents so I’m glad I’ll have health care coverage until 26!
All that I have heard from Obama is that he can’t offer all that he wants to offer everyone because of this financial crisis. He didn’t say how long you have to wait for change, just that he can’t do it right away.
A new program for living better….?
Socialism is not the answer. I recently tried contacting the IRS and the agents sounded overworked and very cranky. That was the operators as the department i was trying to get through to had a 10-15 minute wait. I’ve tried writing them and am getting no response. There seems to be little recourse or accountability to Government, so keep my health care management out of their hands.
Thanks for the infographic.
I wonder what was the purpose of this HCR bill. In reality, it made insurance and medical care more expensive and more complex. They made it more difficult for small businesses that employ majority of our population. Doctors (providers) and patient have no control over the management. Insurance companies do ! They decide which medicine we should take ! HCR bill did not address this. what about 35% admin cost? it still exists. Docs spend more time in documentations and codes (instead of treating patients?) Wait for few years, and failures will be apparent.
Well, that’s true, the financial crisis can be a reason, but I thing this problem should be developed further…for a larger review so that we can know exactly what is going to happen.
An excellent infographic, thanks for that, it sure is pretty hard to comprehend fully!
Any news on the topic?
Sounds a good plan. Let’s see its fate.
It is sad when the people who do things the right way in life get penalized. These socialistic health care ideas have not been well thought out. In the long run we will all end up paying more money for health care while the people in society who do not contribute reap the benefits.
In my opinion – the Health care bill needs reconstructive work in different areas, however it does not need to be dismantled. I believe this copying what most other countries are doing (especially European countries) will completely decrease the quality of health care. You see – there’s a reason why when you go to any country in the world and ask someone if (god forbid) you seriously got sick or needed a surgical procedure, and you could pick anywhere to receive medical attention were would you choose? I bet 9 out 10 times people would choose the U.S.
Miley
These things take time. Obama should have been in office 5 years ago.
Like the post above me says, things take time. I think people generally expected him to just wave a magic wand and all would be well. It just doesn’t work that way, it takes years, sometimes decades for reforms to make their true effect.
I have yet to find anything good about the Obama care plan. If he is really the one who wrote it, then I can understand why. Socialist anything does everything for the government, and next to nothing for the people. When you all get fined for not having insurance, can’t afford the insurance or the fine, and your taxes go through the roof, you’ll be the first ones on the boat to find a new country. A better idea would be to get rid of the rotten apple at the top.
A very interesting article, complex subject.
I agree – If we had Obama in office 5 years ago I think the country would be far ahead. Or for that matter, What were the voters thinking when they tried to impeach Bill Clinton? Our country used to have a budget surplus.
I agree with Colleen and have never agreed anyway with big government and it doesn’t get much bigger than it has under Obama.
I think the obama care should be explained properly to the people and the people should vote. I think to allow one man to make a decision like this is out there in left field. We need a leader for the people not to make money off of them. No one ever says anything about Obama’s non citizen father from a foreign country who most likely got his medical free or lived out of a barrel!