Obama Care, or the Affordable Care Act healthcare law has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The controversy around the healthcare law was the requirement for all Americans to have access to health insurance and be required to have health insurance. Right now, it is very difficult for small businesses to access affordable health insurance plans as most health insurance companies only want to insure large corporations with 75% participation by workers. This has meant senior home care agencies have not been able to provide health insurance for senior caregivers…………which has always seemd a bit odd – for someone to be paid to take care of a senior but yet not be provided with health insurance benefits for themselves.
In addition, all American seniors do receive health insurance via Medicare or Medicaid at age 65. A geriatric doctor once said to me: “if only all of these seniors had health insurance their entire lives, the costs of providing health care at 65 and above would be much less.” He said you have no idea how many seniors have never had health insurance prior to Medicare or Medicaid.
At the same time, those of us who are individually insured may pay as much as $350 per month with a $5,000 deductible. This is how it works for those working for small businesses or self-employed.
Senior caregivers should have access to affordable health care – the only option should not be an emergency room. Certainly provisions will be tossed onto the truck and off the truck as we iron out a better healthcare system in the U.S.A. which includes preventive healthcare.
You may read all about the Supreme Court’s decision on this live blog. It will be exciting to see American health insurance companies roll out preventive health care plans that reward people for trying to live healthy lifestyles and to have the security of knowing everyone has access to health care – not just seniors at age 65.
