Health policy issue

• Select a “news report” on a health policy issue.
• You may use traditional print media sources such as quality newspapers and news journals (for example: Newsweek, Time, Business Week).
• You may also use web sources including print and video.
• You will need to post a copy of your article or provide a link to the source for your instructor and peers.
• The article can be about any health policy topic and may be at the local, state or federal level.
• The article must be recent; this semester is preferred by since last semester is acceptable.
• You may duplicate subject matter but YOU MAY NOT DUPLICATE ARTICLES. For example, more than one person can post about federal health care reform initiatives, as long as the articles come from different sources.
• In your posting, include the source in APA format, provide a brief overview of the issue and a summary of the article.
• Identify elements in the article that you feel are biased and the suspected source of the bias.
• Based on what you have learned from this course, formulate questions you would pose to the author, addressing information you feel should have been included to provide a balanced perspective on the issue, if appropriate.
• Attach a copy of the article to your posting or include a link to the article in your posting. You are expected to read and respond to the postings of other members in your group.

"That means you might see your vision or dental coverage or perks like seeing a specialist without preapproval from your primary-care physician disappear." While the author of this article has done an overall good job of not reflecting bias, there are the occasional interjections from her like the one I placed in quotes. These seem to be her own personal opinion, and feelings.  Also, she states "you won't be stuck without insurance", if the employer offers COBRA then it is a choice. If the person chooses not to take COBRA then they are not stuck, they simply chose not to pay for it. If as the author points out there will be another alternative after leaving an employer then why would COBRA continue to be in existence? No-one would choose to pay the higher premium if there is even another plan to choose from.

Questions I might ask: 1. Why does Mr. Goodman say that many feel the penalty fine is too small? In your article you mentioned that there is a penalty for not obtaining health insurance coverage. You stated that for individuals it would be $95 or up to 1% of income whichever is greater. For someone making $60,000 per year this would be $600, then increase to 2.5% which for the same $60K is $1,500. You also mentioned that for families the fine is $2,085 or 2.5% of income whichever is greater. For a family with an income of $100,000 per year combined this fine would end up being $2,500 per year.

2. Who are these people who think the fine is too small, and what do they think would be a fair amount to penalize people with?

3. Aside from the breastfeeding issues, I thought many employer health plans actually cover maternity care? I had my children 7, and 9 years ago and this benefit was 100%.

4. Now, let's talk about the breastfeeding break. If an employer already allows 2-15 minute breaks not including lunch, would this break be extra? If, yes why is that? Why can't this type of thing be done on a regular break? (I breast fed both my children for more than 6 months each, and pumped while on my allotted breaks).

5. Since there is and will be a greater need for medical providers due to every single person being required to have health insurance, why was there not a fund allotted to recruit more individuals into the field and an increase in financial aid assistance? I know there are grants available for those who choose to work in poor communities, however what if the area in which you live does not qualify under the description of needy given by the government? 

Reference used:

Kotz, D., (2011, Jan.).  What Health Reform Means for You, U.S. News& World Report.  Retrieved from                 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-plans/articles/2011/01/14/what-health-reform-          means-for-you

Reflection:

I have lived all over the country and have seen how the media can portray even the mundane in glamorized ways in order to capitalize the coverage they receive. I have seen how celebrities, as well as, the news media can sensationalize and dramatize just to get what they are talking about more notoriety. Reporters can state that they are not biased; however this would mean they are not human. Humans are by their very nature biased.  We the public are biased in our opinions, likes and dislikes. We the public are enablers to this sensationalism. If the information is more dramatic and shocking we eat it up like it is our favorite food. We as the listeners, readers and buyers of the information are the ones who have to let the media know when they are out of line; however the question remains if we can recognize the media's bias through our own rose colored or tainted glasses. In order to recognize bias in others would mean we would have to look deep into our own psyche to know and understand what our own biases are.  It is my express opinion that it takes time to get to know yourself and understand how you view the world. Everyone has their own reality. 

Reference used: 

Sultz, H.A. & Young, K.M. (2011). Health care USA: Understanding its organization and delivery (7th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.