Health+Policy+Briefing

1. Top 5 Health Issues · Health Care Insurance · ** Social Security Programs (picked one)  ** · Drug Regulation · Cancer research · Healthy Food and Exercise Funding __ http://www.gongol.com/research/economics/economicthreatlist/fivethreats/  __ 2. The main problem of the Social Security Programs is finding funding for Medicaid. With the baby-boomers coming of age of eligibility for Medicaid, there are more people requiring money than there are people paying into the system. This unequal income to output is causing the debt in the system and jeopardizing the future of the Social Security Program for younger generations. These programs are in place to support the elderly with financial help that they paid into over their life and if these programs fail the uproar from individuals who have paid in but did not receive any benefits will be problematic to politics. 3. The Southern states (example: Florida) will have the largest regional impact from Social Security Program Issues. (AP US Government Book) 4. The elder generation, those 65 years and older, will be effected from changes in Medicaid funding because they are the ones eligible for the Social Security Programs benefits. (AP US Government Book) 5. Estimated economic cost currently: $181.7 billion 6. Estimated economic cost to reform/expand its funding: $871 billion over 10 years [] 7. Estimated cost (economical and Human) if not cleaned up: “Ten years ago, Medicaid required nine percent of the state’s funds. This year Medicaid ate up 18 percent. By 2020, just nine years from now, 36 percent of our budget will be directly allocated to Medicaid. We will either need to raise taxes substantially, lay off 20,000 school teachers, close down three of our universities, make extreme cuts to Medicaid rates or opt out of Medicaid entirely, as some other states are considering at this very minute.” [|Senator Dan Liljenquist] __ http://lawafterthebar.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/failure-to-reform-medicaid-the-human-cost/ __ 8. The newly passed Health Care Reforms Bill expands Medicaid to anyone making up to about $15,000 a year. (About 16 million new people are expected to go into Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program because of the bill.) It also provides subsidies to people who aren't poor enough to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford insurance. Individuals making up to about $44,000 qualify for some kind of subsidy. And for people who don't get insurance from their employers are able to shop for plans on new insurance exchanges. These changes have already been brought to the country as possible solutions but rising the eligibility age is also being considered because as people start living longer, more people are receiving aid for more years. __ [] __ 9. The Democratic Party, lead by President Obama, are strong allies for reforms to Medicaid and Social Security Programs by the Health Care Bill. Their influence in the House and Senate allowed for the passing of the bill and is regarded as a huge success for their party. Quote: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). “It’s a vote to provide health insurance from 32 million Americans, decrease taxes on small businesses and decrease more than $1 trillion to the deficit.” [] 10. The Republican Party has shown the largest act against the Health Care bill by attempting to bring about its reversal. They are strongly opposed to the extra taxation that will be placed on the upper-income branches to accommodate for the changes, the increase in governmental spending and the larger governmental control the bill places over the people. Quote: “Instead of requiring states to follow Obamacare’s one-size-fits-all approach to health care policy, our bill lets states decide what works best for their citizens,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY (on bill that Republicans passed through House on their new Health Care bill) __ http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/02/republicans-announce-new-health-care-bill-that-would-allow-states-to-opt-out.html __
 * __ Health Policy Briefing __ **