Health Care

As designers, many of us work for small firms or are independent, and as such our health care plans are most likely not that strong if we even have a plan. In Congress is the debate over reforming health care. Now is our time to let Congress know our thoughts for or against reform. I believe that now is the time for reform to our current ways of providing health care in this country. I would love to see a universal plan that is based on several of the industrialize countries around the world, but it seems that is too far are reach at the current time. So we will have to take small steps to make health care more even or fair to all with the reform that is going through Congress.

Currently, if you have a health plan, I know you have seen your rates climb over the past several years. Insurance rates are growing well ahead of your raises in pay or inflation or the cost of living. One thing is for certain, your rates will continue to rise if we do not come up with a solution. I know that those on the right say let the current system will work its self out, a laissez-faire attitude, but I am not sure this can work. With the way it has been working over the last ten years of insurance companies, lobbyists and Congress, I believe us, the hard working citizens, have not had their best interest looked after. Fair and reasonable health care should be available to all citizens.

As a designer, a reasonable health care plan may allow you to branch out on your own without the worries of high premiums while you get your business going. Reasonable health care plans will allow you to expand your staffing without the worries of high premiums. Reasonable health care plans will allow you know that your employees are covered when in need. Reasonable health care to all will allow us all to continue to grow as a nation, to develop new ideas, to live better lives without worries like going bankrupt do to a major illness when your insurance has been cancelled due to a job loss. Let us start the reform process and start working towards a better country. Get involved, Please contact Congress and let them know our option.

From President Obama:

We are closer than ever to historic health insurance reform – reform that will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans, provide security and stability to those who have health insurance, and shift power from insurance companies to consumers.

Both the House and Senate versions of health insurance reform rest upon the following building blocks:

• Insurance reforms to protect consumers from insurance company worst-practices – like denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, capping total coverage, and dropping or watering down coverage when you get sick and need it most.
• Consumer protections that will restrict how much of your premium dollars insurance companies can spend on marketing, profits, and salaries.
• Creation of a health exchange to increase consumer choice and guarantee coverage.
• Affordable health options, with subsidies for working families and a hardship waiver.
• Tax credits to help small businesses afford coverage.
• Making preventive care completely free – with no co-payments or deductibles
• Lowering the cost of health care for our seniors.
• Improving the quality and extending the life of Medicare.
• Ensuring that reform is not only fully paid for, but actually significantly reduces the federal deficit.