After one of the longest and hardest fought political battles in American history, health care reform is finally a reality. When Niranjan Shah’s fellow Democrat, President Obama, signed the health care reform bill on Tuesday, he turned a campaign promise into a reality and gave millions who go without health care hope for a brighter future. However, just because the bill was signed, it doesn’t mean that the war for health care reform has been won.
The Senate voted 56-43 for fixes to the health care legislation that added perimeters that included better benefits for seniors, low-income families, and the middle class. The new add-ons to the bill acted as some final tweaks that the original bill had been missing. The House later voted and approved the second of the two bills and sent it off to the President for his signature.
Both bills require that every American have or buy some sort of insurance. This allows everyone in the country to maintain some sort of health insurance, and if not, face some sort of penalty. The bills are not just health care orientated though. They will also help cut the deficit by $143 billion and help students pay for college by having an overhaul of the student loan industry.
Even though the bill is signed and delivered, many in congress will do what they can to repeal the bill this upcoming campaign season and make sure that it never comes to true fruition. The President will still have to sell the signed bill to those that might not be in favor of it. The good news is that the first battle in the war between democrats and republicans has been won in favor of health care reform. It’s a start.
