Do you think the recent passing of the the health care bill will be an effective weapon against the easily prevented health issues that have become prevalent amongst those with little to no health care?I cannot imagine it. Preventative medicine is largely a myth. People who contract chronic fatal diseases--about 1.7 million deaths a year--do so because they have unhealthy habits. They do not eat right, do not get enough exercise, are obese or smoke and drink too much. Not to mention some are doomed because of genetics. No amout of government money will change people’s habits.
I am inclined to think the government ought to try, either. The reason move to limit salt intake is a fine example. That is way too nanny state for my tastes. People ought to be able to eat, drink, and be as lazy as they wish, without government interference, as long as they are prepared to face the consequences--which means they ought not expect anyone else to pay for their poor choices.
I have potentially opened a can of worms there about Medicare, Medicaid, and childhood obesity programs along with my Christian beliefs, but that is all beyond the scope of the question. If anyone wants to explore further, you will have to ask specifically.
To more specifically answer the actual question, I do not think preventative medicine is ObamaCare’s intention, at least in the short term. The law appears to be designed as a set up for womb to the tomb universal healthcare by specifically destroying insurance companies.
ObamaCare requires insurance companies to now include people with preexisting conditions. That means an immediate burden on company resources. Rates are goig to have to rise on healthy policy holders to cover the increased expense. So the government can demonize insurance companies as greedy corporations for tryig to honor government requirements. It is a sneaky way of turning public opinion against private insurance. The rising expenses will run many out of business.
Plus, the penalty for not buying insurance is cheaper for many businesses than offering employee insurance, so may will drop their plans and just pay the fine. Since most people get health insurance through their employers, we may wind up with fewer insured people.
The combination of “evil insurance companies gouging sick people,” the dwindling number of insurance companies, and the fallin number of those with medical insurance from their employers will create a climate for a public option. People will start using that rather than private insurance and before you know, universal healthcare will have come to the Unite States.
It is insidious, but that is the plan. The idea of getting quality healthcare to the uninsured is just a smokescreen for a government takeover of the healthcare industry. So no, I do not expect any benefits I the area of preventative medicine or any other healthcare related issue.
