When United States President Barak Obama first introduced his health care initiative it was a measure that had not been achieved in the history of the presidency or the nation. The matter of health care and health insurance in the US has been a hot topic of debate in recent months. Blocking as well as passing and changing this plan is just the start of it.

The US is the only nation that has individuals or businesses pay for health care; a large portion of Americans receive their health insurance through their employer through employee benefits. These benefits usually start a month or so after initial hiring and a probationary period; after that has been reached, the employee should start receiving benefits. Since 2007, more and more individuals have found themselves without health insurance due in part to unemployment.

At that time, over 15% of the population – about 45 million – was without health care, with that number continuing to grow as the economic climate continues to struggle.

Health insurance isn’t just for those who are working; the technical definition actually does include that of Medicare, which is the care for the elderly.

The debate in regards to health care is a long winding one – for those who are unemployed, there may not be a way in which they can afford the premiums along with other bills; there are also those who may be denied health insurance due to a pre-existing condition, such as heart disease or even a previous injury or surgery.

Because of these types of conditions, many Americans end up going without health insurance, which can be dangerous, especially in the case of an accident. There are also those who may not be able to take care of their existing conditions because they are unable to purchase medications, which are usually offered at lower pricing with insurance.

The debate over health care is one that goes hand in hand with the US government, in that health corporations are usually making a profit for the insurance they are providing for individuals and families. The current climate in the US is a growing distrust of corporations and governments as a whole, due to the fact that many of these companies are seen as making back room deals and profits that hurt those of the working class.

Can there be a solution? That is the question that many continue to ask. Some feel that the US should follow the example of other countries, such as Canada, in which their health care is offered for free to anyone who is in need of it. This type of care can be very attractive, but can also have some downsides in terms of the costs that individuals need to pay in order to receive medications or treatment. Also the standard of care in countries that offer “free” health insurance is not what United States residents currently experience.

As long as the US economy continues its struggle, the discussion of health care will continue to be in the news and on people’s minds. With a still high unemployment rate, those who have not found work are in the majority of people who are unable to afford health insurance and in the end, are also at risk for experiencing an emergency event that will cost more for them and their family. It’s worth it for those families to at least look into a low cost plan so they can breathe easier.

Tags: health care, health insurance