the threshold will be lowered
As the Obama administration and congressional Democrats managed to pass health insurance reform after a year of hard work ?????, new statistics are emphasizing why they believe their actions were necessary. Moreover http://www.monclers.biz/forum, there are also indications that the American people are coming around to their point of view.
Last year, before healthcare reform had passed, total health care spending increased by nearly five percent. Keep in mind that 2009 was a year where
there was virtually no general inflation whatsoever, due to the recession. In the past, health insurance companies have blamed inflation for rapidly
increasing rates, but that is no longer the case.
Employers ?????? ???, whom Democrats believe their legislation will help, were especially hard hit. According to the Thomson Reuters report, their costs
increased by 7.3% in 2009. Although the U.S. economy is officially no longer in a recession, figures such as those indicate that it may be a painful,
jobless recovery. Obama has said that assisting businesses, especially small ones, with the unique burden of providing affordable health insurance to
their employees, is essential for jump starting job creation ??????. The bill does so through tax credits.
Many businesses are skeptical that the bill will have a positive impact. After all, it mandates that all companies over a certain size either offer
health insurance plans to their employees or pay fines. Over the next several years, the threshold will be lowered, so more businesses will be subject
to the employer mandate. However, supporters think that it--along with the individual mandate--will reduce costs by bringing millions of uninsured
people into the fold. Many of those without insurance are younger and healthier than the population at large. Including them would allow the health
insurance companies to spread their risk more effectively, therefore allowing them to charge lower premiums. Meanwhile, health insurers will have to
become more efficient and spend a majority of the premiums they do collect from employers on health care.
Small businesses as a whole, who saw their health insurance rates rise by 9.8% in 2009, are the majority of employers in America. Maybe that's
why--despite continued controversy--polls show that the public is beginning to warm up to the legislation. Obama is about to sign the bill, which is
now approved of by nearly 50% of respondents. While that is now a majority, that is still low for such major legislation. Still, the trend is moving
upward.
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