Obamacare is (finally) here

While the radical Republicans in the House of Representatives continue to struggle to find a way to stop it, Obamacare has arrived. At midnight, open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act began. The new law won't take effect in full until January 1, 2014, but enrollment signals a landmark in progress toward a more humane American society.

Obamacare--a term once derided by conservatives but now embraced by Barack Obama partisans such as me--follows in the footsteps of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, programs enacted by Democrats against the vociferous objection of Republicans.

The Affordable Care Act will create many benefits, not the least of which is providing basic health services to millions of Americans who cannot afford medical insurance. 

In a survey released on September 28 by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 57 percent of Americans say they or one of their family members have done without some form of medical care within the past 12 months because of cost. Take note: 35 percent relied on home remedies or over-the-counter drugs rather than a doctor's prescription, 34 percent postponed or put off health care, 19 percent cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine because of cost. Many people were forced to rely more than one cost-cutting measure.

Under Obamacare, that will change. Consumers will be able to locate private insurers that fit their pocketbook and medical needs. Those who cannot afford insurance premiums will qualify for subsidies to defray the cost. About half of Americans will qualify for a subsidy, with the amount depending on a number of factors, including their income. 

If you are one of the 35 percent of Americans who already receive health insurance through your employer, nothing will change. If you have Medicare, nothing will change. 

Under Obamacare, everyone must have health insurance or face a penalty. Universal insurance is essential to affordable health care. Having a wide pool of consumers spreads the risk, so no one individual is forced into bankruptcy because of medical bills. That's the same principle behind requiring all motorists to have car insurance. Young adults sometimes feel they are indestructible and don't need health insurance, but there is plenty of evidence that they're wrong. For instance, about 500,000 Americans, mostly men, require emergency medical treatment each year because of injuries from playing basketball, according to the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.

Obamacare has brought or will bring other changes:

• Insurers cannot deny you coverage for a pre-existing condition, such as accident, cancer or pregnancy.
• Preventive care--including annual doctor visits, vaccinations and mammograms--are free.
• Individual lifetime caps on medical coverage are banned.
• Insurers can no longer impose higher premiums on women than men.
• Young adults can remain on their parents' health policies until age 26.
• You can get money back if your insurance company doesn't spend at least 80 percent of your premium on medical care.

Even though federal agencies are now shutting down because of the Republicans' inability (or refusal) to fund the government, online enrollment in Obamacare has begun. Go to Healthcare.gov for details and to enroll.

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