So what's going to happen to health care now?

Published

So, for better or worse, we have a new President. What do you think will be the future of health care and the future of nursing as a profession? Will we be better off as nurses or worse? Will we be better off as patients or worse?

Not looking for a political argument....god knows we've had enough of those in the past few days. Emotions are running high and we all have opinions. I'm just curious as to what we can expect.

Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
I may be affected in two ways. Firstly, I am a case manager in the Medicaid MCO division of a major health insurance company. My job exists due to Medicaid expansions that occurred a couple of years ago. If Medicaid is targeted for budgetary cuts, my job could be in limbo.

Secondly, I was uninsured from 2010 to late 2013. Due to the ACA, I was able to obtain insurance in December 2013 spite of my pre-existing health conditions. Depending on what happens, I may rejoin the ranks of the uninsured in a few years. At this point we can only speculate.

From what I understand, Trump has come out saying he plans on keeping the legislation regarding pre-existing conditions. I do not know the details of how he will pull that off though. Not sure he does at this point either.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is a little long.... but stay with me,

I have a little different perspective.

I've been a registered nurse for 9 years. In 2015, I became a licensed insurance agent as well with a brokerage that partnered with all of the major insurance companies and many smaller ones.

What I learned through the process of getting involved with an insurance brokerage is that we as nurses and the general public do not really have a good grasp on what affordable insurance coverage entails and how the ACA really affected it.

The ACA is every insurance company's dream! The whole industry was excited! Why? Guaranteed $$ and lots more of it... since it's required by law.

There was good and bad:

1. The good- you can get insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions.

The bad- That portion of the law is what caused and continues to drive insurance rates up.

2. The good:

-More people have access to insurance via expanded Medicaid programs.... with little or no cost.

-The bad- This factor has directly driven up taxes and indirectly drives up medical costs and insurance premiums for working families who are not qualified for Medicaid.

Reality:

The bad: Low cost insurance policies were previously (before ACA) widely available, but with a high deductible ($2-3k)...(most plans deductibles now for everyone are $3k-12k/person now.. a sharp increase.... its no longer the exception)

The good: From an insurance industry perspective (and this nurse who is licensed but NOT practicing.... I'm not drumming up business, just sharing an inside perspective)

Regardless of what happens with the ACA, good insurance coverage was already, is and will be available (yes even many times for those with pre-existing conditions.. but obviously more expensive). The key is understanding how to choose good coverage. It usually is complex based on individual needs and location, but always includes pairing the right insurance plan with the right supplemental insurances... they work together to reduce premiums and have big deductibles covered so that people can afford and not worry how to cover costs in most cases.

They key to finding affordable insurance in the US health market is finding a competent, caring insurance agent who works with all major carriers and build a relationship with them. Let the agent help you through the maze. It will save you $ time and stress.

ACA has not been a savior of health care. For many, it has been a nightmare due to unaffordable new premiums. For many it has been a blessing in the form of low or no premiums.

There is a difference between affordable insurance and affordable care. The ACA has falsely equated the two ideas.

I expect and hope there here will be changes.

Mainly, I feel that while it is wise to have insurance in most cases, it is always wrong to require it by law or face fines.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Us health care is great in quality when you're absolutely dying, but very poor in maintaining health for the population.

I think you are missing the point..........Even before Obamacare, America did not have a legitimate free market health care system.....So to compare Trumpcare to Obamacare or to disparage Trump's legitimate free market healthcare ideas is being disingenuous........Honestly, if I had to choose, I'd prefer Congresscare..........;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Honestly, if I had to choose, I'd prefer Congresscare..........;)

How quickly do you think we'd see a true health care/insurance overhaul if they had the same choices Joe Schmoe has?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That should be a red flag!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So what will it take for the USA to have some sort of national health coverage to all citizens just like in canada, United, most western European countries, nordic european countries just as an example? what's keeping the USA from doing it? it would surely be beneficial.

i dont know much about the politics of it all and why the USA, one of the richest countries developed countries in the world, doesn't have it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Real health care reform would have included tort reform. Perhaps this president will include tort reform and other cost saving measures to save our jobs and reduce redundancy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am going to stay optimistic and give our new President Elect the opportunity to make changes before I start saying we are all doomed! If Trump does even half of what he says he wants to do then we will be in a better place than we are today. Ben Carson will be making changes to the Obama Care, hopefully, those changes will be for the better. I believe if he can take the "good" things that are already there and makes some changes to the affordability and other parts that aren't working we may end up with decent insurance coverage for all. Or at least I hope! Having a negative outlook will get you nowhere, or the protesting, so why not give him a chance to prove you right or wrong. Look forward to your future!! It's a blessing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
From what I understand, Trump has come out saying he plans on keeping the legislation regarding pre-existing conditions. I do not know the details of how he will pull that off though. Not sure he does at this point either.

I hope he means it and figures out a way to do it. I am very afraid of losing my health insurance and not being able to qualify for a new plan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Ben Carson will be making changes to the Obama Care, hopefully, those changes will be for the better.

I wish they would add a nurse or two to advise as well! Maybe some other front line workers like RTs, too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
This has already been my reality for the past several years. Cost of living up but no COLA, insurance premiums rising [though admittedly not as much as some people's have]. I recently used this as part of my argument to justify getting a raise as I bring home less money now than I did five years ago thanks to insurance and taxes going up while my wages stayed the same.

This is the reality for many.

I'm watching this quite carefully. Anything is possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

So, how does one create affordability without adversely affecting profits?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion