Health care impact

Posted 2/6/17

T he headlines have been saying the health care legislation passed by the U.S. House would leave 23 million more in the country uninsured. We assume that number is correct. While many families would …

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Health care impact

Posted

The headlines have been saying the health care legislation passed by the U.S. House would leave 23 million more in the country uninsured. We assume that number is correct.While many families would be affected, it doesn’t mean they will not receive health care.What it means is that hospitals will be faced with more charity patients. Hospitals already provide services to people without the ability to pay.The services provided amount to millions of dollars every year for hospitals. Most of the unpaid bills have to be written off as bad debt, uncollectible.More uninsured people mean more charity must be provided by hospitals, which don’t turn people away except in rare occasions.The legislation is expected to have rough sailing in the Senate where its fate is uncertain. It has been estimated that the cuts would amount to $119 billion over a decade.Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said after Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City said it will no longer offer plans on the Obamacare exchanges, leaving about 31,000 Missourians in 25 counties with no insurer option on the exchanges next year, that Obamacare is collapsing.The search for an answer to the health care issue is elusive.


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