Every night before I go to sleep, I turn on CNN. My evening ritual isn't for the glow of the television to put me to sleep, but so I see the day's headlines before I get out of bed the next morning.
Lately, the fist four words I've been hearing before my Cheerio's are "Obama's health care reform." Alright, I get it, clearly something in our health care system isn't working - but what? I fall in the college-age demographic (18-24) and being in that "leaving the nest" transition category, I'm used to being too old for some things and too young for others.
When it comes to health care, many people in my demographic are sometimes too old for be covered under their parent's insurance (provided their parents have coverage, many don't) and too young to have a job with full benefits. Many college campuses do have health services with routine and preventative care, as well as STD testing. FGCU even has health insurance available for domestic students - for $1,200 a year. However, anything above routine care just isn't covered. I, like other students, can barely cover the cost of rising tuition - any hospital stay would put my bank account in the red.
Here are the basics:
Why is everyone making such a big deal over health care?
For the Americans that have health insurance, 25 million are under insured and up to 46 million have none at all. With so many companies cutting back, many employers are limiting or eliminating health insurance for their remaining employees. in 2007, Americans spent upwards of $7,000 per person.
Let's put that $7,000 in perspective: that's 2 1/2 years of college tuition in a Florida public university, 35 iPhone 3Gs', or 1,400 pitchers of Miller Light at Miller's Ale House.
One year of health care in the US costs 52% more than the next most costly nation, Norway. The median income in 2008 declined 3% from 2007 - to $50,303.
That means health care costs almost 14% of the average American's yearly income.
What's all this talk about a "public option"?
Obama would like to create a health care system that is federally funded, similar to Medicare; a plan that would give affordable health care for all Americans. Obama is also insisting his plan would prevent those with pre-existing conditions to be denied health care.
Canada can do it, why can't we?
Private insurance would still be available, but Republicans are concerned that the public option would decrease the overall quality of health care and many employers would choose the public option to save money. Its always a possibility - busier doctors with more patients could mean less face time and and more rushed visits.
There's debate that the public option would mean the onset of Socialism... However, there's also a reason we have a President, not a dictator. If we had Fidel Castro hanging out in the oval office, smoking cigars and insisting on a public option, I'd be more concerned. But Congress has plenty of seats filled with conservatives to keep the argument balanced.
How does it affect you?
