Lots of people are upset about the new health care reform that has been passed. But why are they so worried? What could people possibly think is wrong with something that will in the end help millions of people? The health care reform that has been passed will in the end help everyone. One of the things people worry about is that the government will take over one sixth of the economy. That would be alarming if it were true. But government involvement in healthcare will increase gradually over time and remain modest, especially since there's no "public option" in the current plan that would set up a government-run insurer. Shares of health insurers like Aetna, UnitedHealth, Wellpoint, and Cigna subject to the strongest new rules under reform have outperformed the stock market over the past year. The pharmaceutical and hospital industries also are considered winners because there will be millions of new customers who suddenly have insurance that can pay for treatment. That led the entire stock market higher the day after reform passed.
Another thing lots of people are concerned about is that the federal debt will explode. The Congressional Budget Office, which is probably the most reliable, nonpartisan number-crunching outfit in Washington, says the reforms will reduce government deficits by $143 billion through 2019, thanks to new taxes and fees and cost savings in government healthcare programs like Medicare.
Doctors will revolt, yet again another concern that people have for the health reform. Doctors don't like the current system, in which insurance companies call the shots. But instead of sweeping reform and more government involvement, they prefer gradual reform that puts more control in the hands of doctors. In one recent survey, nearly one third of physicians said they'd consider leaving medicine if reform passes, which it now has. Doctors worry that the new rules will cut into their incomes, which may happen, eventually. But it's not likely that thousands of doctors who have dedicated years to a complex profession will simply quit. Besides, with millions of new patients seeking care, the demand for doctors will actually rise, not decline. And if cost controls discourage the doctors who are in it to get rich, maybe that will help bring costs down for everybody else. Meanwhile, the American Medical Association and dozens of other physicians' lobbying groups will continue to look out for doctors' interests in Washington.
People that own small or large businesses believe that they will suffer. The new rules will impose fees on businesses with more than 50 employees if their workers receive government subsidies to buy insurance in the form of employer-provided coverage. Business groups complain that this could stunt economic growth and slow