HEALTH CARE IN THE USA

• No NHS.• All Americans are required to pay for

healthcare.• Most people have health insurance.

MEDICAIDThe Health Insurance Association of America describes Medicaid as a "government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care.“

It is jointly funded by Federal and State Governments and run by each State.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare.

• Nearly 50 million, or 16.3% of Americans are uninsured.

• By ethnicity, the rate of those who lack insurance is:

• 15.4% White • 20.8% Black • 18.1% Asian • 30.7% Hispanic

• Source: US Census Bureau

Why introduce the Health care Act?

OBAMA’S HEALTHCARE

1. All Americans have to have healthcare insurance.

2. If they don’t they will be fined a penalty.

WHY HAVE THE SUPREME COURT BEEN INVOLVED?

• THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ALONG WITH 12 OTHER STATES, FILED A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE BILL MINUTES AFTER MR OBAMA SIGNED THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) INTO LAW IN MARCH 2010.

• THEY WERE LATER JOINED BY 13 MORE STATES, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS.

June 2012• THE US SUPREME COURT HAS SAID PRESIDENT

BARACK OBAMA'S LANDMARK HEALTHCARE REFORM ACT IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

• THE COURT UPHELD A CORE REQUIREMENT KNOWN AS THE "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE" THAT AMERICANS BUY INSURANCE OR PAY A FINE. THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY SAING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN IMPOSE A FINE AS THIS IS TECHNICALLY A TAX AND THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

• OF THE NINE JUSTICES ON THE BENCH, CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS' VOTE WAS DECISIVE IN THE SUPREME COURT'S 5-4 RULING IN FAVOUR OF THE LAW.

• THE RULING CAME MONTHS BEFORE THE US ELECTION, WITH REPUBLICANS VOWING TO PUSH FOR A REPEAL OF THE BILL.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST OBAMACARE

FOR AGAINST

• Obama's Health Care Law Explained – YouTube

• Obama's Health Plan In 4 Minutes – YouTube

• BBC News - Romney blasts US healthcare ruling

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST OBAMACARE

FOR AGAINSTEveryone will have access to medical help

It is another tax.

Young people will have better access to healthcare. They can remain on their parents healthcare plan until the age of 26.

It is a job-killer. It discourages job creation by raising the cost of hiring .

It will create jobs. It reduces the cost of healthcare making it cheaper for businesses to hire.

Discriminates against the young, forcing them to buy expensive health care to pay for the elderly.

Reduces healthcare fraud. It makes the federal budget deficit worse as it increases federal spending

Small businesses and some families will get tax credits for their healthcare.

• Timeline of the Affordable Care Act | HealthCare.gov

• Unreported World - 4oD - Channel 4