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Americans devided over health bill
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US President Barack Obama scored the biggest victory of his presidency when Congress approved his signature health care reform bill, bringing near-universal coverage to millions of people who are currently uninsured. But,the landmark bill is getting a sharply divided response from voters across the country.
The health reform legislation represents the biggest expansion of the US federal government's social safety net since the 1965 creation of the government-run Medicare health program for the elderly and disabled.
The landmark healthcare reform bills has evoked a sharply divided response from voters.
Some applaud, saying it will provide universal healthcare access.
Benjamin Joy said, "I am glad that the bill passed because everyone deserves healthcare, pre-existing conditions do not...they shouldn't preclude you from having healthcare and most western countries have some sort of socialized medicine, the U.S being the richest country in the world should have something like this..."
But others worry healthcare reform will prove too expensive for the country.
Dave Canelli said, "I think the country needs healthcare reform, but I think this bill was bad and I think it's going to cost America a lot of money that we just can't afford. The deficit is astronomical and we just can't afford this."
Still others are ambivalent toward the bill.
Shirley Heller said, "Well I have mixed emotions, I have to tell you up front, I am a Republican and I really feel that there are some good parts, but I am really afraid of what's in that 2,700-page bill, because I think there's a lot of deals that's been made and I am too much of a conservative to think that we should do this as far as making deals with different people....."
The healthcare revamp would require most Americans to have health coverage, give subsidies to help lower-income workers pay for coverage and create state-based exchanges where the uninsured can compare and shop for plans.
Now, Democrats in Congress face a new challenge -- convincing voters it's a good deal as mid-term elections approach.
