America has received a new law reforming the national healthcare system. In a tense vote in the House of Representatives, 219 representatives voted for the law, while 212 voted against it.
All 178 opposition Republicans voted against, joined by 34 Democrats. The law will now go to President Barack Obama for signing, after which it will take effect. This law will provide health insurance to 32 million Americans out of 47 million who currently do not have it. However, as nothing comes for free today, Obama had to agree to a compromise. In exchange for voting for the law, a dozen conservative Democrats, led by Bart Stupak, secured a presidential executive order that will prohibit federal funding for abortions. This was originally included in the healthcare law. Republicans believe the law is a fiscal Frankenstein that will weaken the U.S.
Healthcare reform is President Barack Obama’s most ambitious domestic project, and its passage is his greatest legislative achievement. Obama called the passage of the law a victory for all Americans. One of the significant innovations brought by the law is a regulatory system for insurance companies to prevent current abuses such as the constant rise in premiums, denial of insurance due to pre-existing or chronic conditions, refusal to cover costs when the insured becomes ill, and similar issues. Every American must now obtain health insurance, under the threat of a penalty of $695 per year, while the penalty for employers is $2,000 per worker they do not insure. The cost of implementing the law is $940 billion over the next 10 years, and it is expected to reduce the budget deficit by $138 billion during the same period. (www.hrt.hr)
