Dr. Eric McLaughlin, the Chief Presidential Academic Advisor of the California Institute for Advance Management, gave a timely presentation about the near term and future effects of Obama Care. In California, the low income poor have access to health care from Medical. The working class has access to health care from their company’s medical insurance. The other group is the working poor, who have part time jobs which do not qualify for company insurance, or are not poor enough to qualify for Medical. This group, which has no insurance, was the design for Obama Care.

There are 5 areas that are going to effect health insurance cost in the future.

1. Baby Boomers. As people get older they use more health care services. The impact of more older people, as baby boomers age, will put a strain on the health care system.
2. Doctors cost are increasing rapidly. OBGYN doctors pay $50,000 a week for malpractice insurance. Malpractice laws are very loose in our country.
3. Cost for medical machinery such as MRIs is very high. In our country we believe everyone should have access to the best care that the best equipment can provide, and that every hospital should have the latest equipment.
4. The government system for delivery of health care is very inefficient and extremely burdensome and costly.
5. Pharmacy costs are rising drastically. In the future, drugs will be customized for individuals and will cost more. The United States pays for the research and developmental stages for 8 out 10 new drugs in the world. It cost, $800,000,000 to produce a new drug.

What can the federal government do in the future to reduce the cost of health care? People will continue to age regardless, so nothing could be done there. Malpractice laws could be changed to be less severe. People are still going to want their health facilities to have the latest equipment. Could the government be more efficient? Theoretically yes, but will this ever happen. Should the United States pay for most of the development cost for new drugs? Should people in our country pay more for drugs than the rest of the world? This is where some significant legislation will have to take place.

Obama Care has helped many people, but it is very expensive and inefficient. Future cost will rise and the big question will be, can we afford the current health system?