Obama's health insurance reforms clear first hurdle on way to becoming law

The House of Representatives approved a bill on health insurance. This means a major breakthrough in history. It is also the most important thing that Obama achieved since he became president.

Because of this measure, the health insurance will be accessible for 96% of the US people. If this bill passes, still 18 million people wouldn’t have any health coverage by 2019. Larger companies would have to offer insurance to the employees. Also individual people will be obliged to be insured. If they don’t do it, they will have to pay the consequences. The government will only subsidize those who can’t afford.

It was very close. The bill passed with only a little bit, 220 times ‘YES’ and 215 times ‘NO’. Obama calls it ‘a historical moment’.

The Senate still has to approve the bill, before it becomes a law. They will need 60 votes to get it passed. But it will be difficult to do so because of the many conservative Democrats.
If the Senates goes along with it, both versions will be put together.

There are groups of people in the Us that think that this bill is not so good because it helps ‘to clear the way’ to abortion rights. But under the compromise, it would not be allowed for health insurance companies to offer abortion services. But pro-choice groups think that because of this restriction, a lot of women would lose the abortion rights they now already have.

In my opinion, I personally think that this bill is a very good thing, a real breakthrough for the health insurance in the United States. I really hope that the Senate approves so it can become a law.

It is absolutely necessary because a lot of US people don’t have a health insurance just because it isn’t accessible enough. And that’s why going to the doctor or hospital is so expensive. Because of the law, this can become better.

I think we can say that in Belgium the health care is very good. We all have an insurance to lower the costs.

It is a pity that there still will be people without any coverage, and that is why I think that the United States government has to subsidize the health insurance more than they already do now. But I realize this will be very difficult because it is so expensive.

Source: Obama's health insurance reforms clear first hurdle on way to becoming law (9 November 2009) -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/08/us-healthcare-insurance-reform-obama