Are the New Health Care Reform Laws Good for America? Pros and Cons from 150+ Experts in New Resource from ProCon.org

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Sep 02, 2010, 11:15 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ProCon.org, the premier, free, nonpartisan, public service website whose aim is to provide readers with unbiased research on the country's most debated issues has completed its authoritative pros and cons on whether the March 2010 health care reform laws are good for America, and how this legislation impacts the lives of all Americans.

The result is Health Care Reform ProCon.org (http://healthcarereform.procon.org) which presents 34 commonly asked questions regarding the March 2010 health care reform laws along with responses from over 150 experts including President Barack Obama (pro), former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (con), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (pro), House Majority Leader John Boehner (con), AARP (pro), US Chamber of Commerce (con), New York Times (pro), Wall Street Journal (con), along with many physicians, economists, government officials, medical organizations, and dozens more.

General Reference

In March 2010, the US Congress passed HR 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and HR 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. President Barack Obama signed them both into law (on March 23rd and March 30th, respectively), along with Executive Order 13535 (on March 24th) restricting federal funds from being used for abortion services.

Pro

Proponents of the health care legislation have called it a "historic victory" and "landmark legislation" that reforms the US health care system by reigning in health care costs, making health care available and affordable to millions, and protecting consumers from unfair insurance practices. They say the law will reduce the nation's deficit by more than $100 billion by 2020 and by $1 trillion by 2030.

Con

Opponents have called it a "socialist" and "unconstitutional" government takeover of the health care system that will increase the cost of health care and decrease the quality. They say the law will cost more than $2.5 trillion over 10 years and drive the US deeper into debt. Several congressional representatives, state attorneys general, and others have initiated attempts to repeal it.

Health Care Reform ProCon.org, the 35th ProCon.org issue website, presents hundreds of pro and con arguments and includes sources, biographies, readers' comments, a detailed history of the health care legislation's passage, a comparison of pro/con statements on prior entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid), a selection of little known facts called "Did You Know?," and more. The findings should help readers think critically, educate themselves, and make informed decisions about health care.

Did You Know?

* Starting in 2014, health insurance will be mandatory, and most people who do not purchase insurance will be fined by the federal government. The fine will be $95 in 2014 and $350 in 2015. Beginning in 2016 and continuing for every subsequent year, the fine will be $750 multiplied by a cost of living adjustment for the calendar year, rounded to the next lowest multiple of 50.

* Exemptions from the mandatory health insurance requirement will be granted for American Indians, extreme financial hardship, religious objections, incarcerated individuals, people without insurance for less than three months, and undocumented immigrants.

* 20 states have joined in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

* Only one Republican House Representative, Anh Cao (R-LA), voted for the House's original health care reform bill (H.R. 3962) in Nov. 2009. No Republican in the House or Senate, including Anh Cao, voted in favor of the two subsequent health reform bills passed by Congress (H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872).

For more information about Health Care Reform ProCon.org, visit http://healthcarereform.procon.org

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