President Obama has set the ball rolling to his signature health care reforms. The key parts of the law called 'The Affordable Care Act', euphemistically termed by the President's hardcore supporters as 'Obamacare' have come into force with effect from today. Accordingly, the US Department of Health and Human Services opened new insurance market places in 50 states and have begun business.
The new insurance offers a broad range of essential benefits that were not included in the individual policies of the past like mental health, birth control and preventive care. Linked to other insurance market reforms, it promises an important safeguard to the consumer - no discrimination on the basis of gender or health history! Furthermore, the policies available will be based on an individual's income, location, family size and the level of coverage.
The accompanying legislation requires the Americans to obtain insurance within 6 months or pay a fine.
The governmental shutdown has been brought about because of the showdown between the Republicans and the Democrats on the implementation of the healthcare bill. While the Democrats have said that, come what may, the bill kicks off with effect from today, the Republicans insist that they would fund the American federal government in return for a one-year delay in the implementation of the law! And, therein, lies the impasse!!
And the outcome? The national parks and other government tourist spots will remain closed. NASA, the environmental protection agency and the local housing authorities will also have their shutters down. The White House and other governmental agencies will be manned by skeletal staff. And the worst - the employees, forced to go on compulsory leave - won't get their paychecks!
Bipartisanship between the Republicans and the Democrats was essential in these trying times. And the worst is yet to come when on the 17th of this month the limit to the government's financial borrowings will be arrived at. And to let the government free 'off the hook', the Republicans have asked for a slew of financial reforms.
The effects the shutdown will have on the world economy remains to be seen - to name just one, our exports are gonna take a serious hit!
Tailpiece.
The politicians, the world over, are the same. They work for their own individual welfare and don't care a damn either about the nation or the people, who'd voted them to power! What a curse?
The new insurance offers a broad range of essential benefits that were not included in the individual policies of the past like mental health, birth control and preventive care. Linked to other insurance market reforms, it promises an important safeguard to the consumer - no discrimination on the basis of gender or health history! Furthermore, the policies available will be based on an individual's income, location, family size and the level of coverage.
The accompanying legislation requires the Americans to obtain insurance within 6 months or pay a fine.
The governmental shutdown has been brought about because of the showdown between the Republicans and the Democrats on the implementation of the healthcare bill. While the Democrats have said that, come what may, the bill kicks off with effect from today, the Republicans insist that they would fund the American federal government in return for a one-year delay in the implementation of the law! And, therein, lies the impasse!!
And the outcome? The national parks and other government tourist spots will remain closed. NASA, the environmental protection agency and the local housing authorities will also have their shutters down. The White House and other governmental agencies will be manned by skeletal staff. And the worst - the employees, forced to go on compulsory leave - won't get their paychecks!
Bipartisanship between the Republicans and the Democrats was essential in these trying times. And the worst is yet to come when on the 17th of this month the limit to the government's financial borrowings will be arrived at. And to let the government free 'off the hook', the Republicans have asked for a slew of financial reforms.
The effects the shutdown will have on the world economy remains to be seen - to name just one, our exports are gonna take a serious hit!
Tailpiece.
The politicians, the world over, are the same. They work for their own individual welfare and don't care a damn either about the nation or the people, who'd voted them to power! What a curse?
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