Thank you for your recent editorial on the need for health-care reform.
While I agree that we must as a country do a better job in providing care for the underserved and that Obamacare is a well intended start, the early results are mixed on how effective the law will be.
Since New York has always been a very progressive state, we have already have reforms like community rating and guaranteed issues in many of our products so the law adds fewer protections in underwriting for us.
However the very good news for New Yorkers is that premiums have been substantially reduced for individual plans.
Premium credits and cost-sharing can make plans even more affordable
My concerns going forward are that the high deductibles of several thousands in many plans may work against the goal of increasing access to care.
Also, the lack of expected participation by younger adults may lead to much higher future premiums.
Finally the law has done little to address the question of why the U.S. spends so much on health care yet gets average grades on many quality measures.
More needs to be done to accomplish the laudable goals of high quality and affordable care for all.
P.S. I think you meant 30 hours as the full-time definition in the law.
Dr. John Sardelis
Associate Chairperson Health Administration
Saint Joseph’s College of New York
Patchogue
