Reform?

Reform?

It has been nearly four months since the Senate passed their health care reform bill. And yet, despite this seemingly lethargic pace, the House of Representatives voted late last night, 219-212, to pass the Senate's version of the bill. Although this bill is unlikely to be the final piece of health care legislation this year- the promised reconciliation appears imminent- certain assumptions can be made about what reform will actually take place after its signing.
The bill will, over time, extend protections to all Americans who are currently being discriminated against by the insurance companies. 90 days after the bill goes into law, insurance companies will be unable to deny coverage to children with preexisting conditions. Some others denied health care insurance will, soon after, be able to buy plans in a high-stakes insurance exchange.
Eventually, insurance companies will be forced to declare a justify proposed rate hikes before being allowed to enact them. Medicaid will be expanded to include more of the uninsured. Employers will be under more pressure to provide insurance to employees. Insurance companies will be more regulated, and less able to drop customers while being forced to provide minimum care.
However, the reform bill is not nearly as reaching as it could- and should- be. The bill does nothing to provide viable competition for insurance companies, completely ignoring the possibility of a public option, even a reactive one. Despite limitations on companies' ability to raise rates, no plan is given to lower them. The bill offers a mandate, forcing all Americans to buy heath care insurance- but forces them to buy a private plan. By not providing a public option, the US government is forcing Americans to buy a private product.
The bill could act as a stepping stone to more sweeping reforms. It is potential- although unlikely- that the reconsolidated bill will make great strides to cover those still not insured under the current plan. Still, regardless of flaws, the recently passed bill is a step in the right direction.