TAMPA – The debates went for hours last Sunday and President Obama postponed his trip to Asia twice but the health care reform bill passed with a 219 to 212 vote in Congress and Obama signed the bill on Tuesday.
The reaction has varied across the nation and the story is the same here at The University of Tampa.
The new health care bill will cover millions of newly insured Americans but Ryan Kievit, a senior marketing major, already sees the problems that will result from the bill in the future.
“Is this country in distress? Hell yeah it is, and I’m concerned about the future economic and financial situations. All they’re going to do is spill onto the shoulders of my generation,” Kievit said.
Michaela Santiago, a junior political science major said she would have preferred a public option for health care but sees the change as a positive step forward.
“I think it’s about time Congress finally did something for the American people,” Santiago said.
The new health care plan intends on protecting the country through 2014.
Some feel the plan was struck behind closed doors and the Republicans even voiced that opinion during the debate last Sunday.
Kelly Polk, communication department staff assistant and a registered independent said she feels, “cautious about any bill parted by large HMOs and insurance companies. I believe in universal health care, but I am not sure if this bill will be the one to get us there.”
With the Legislative Branch juggling the future outcomes of millions of Americans one can’t help think but why this is took so long.
“It’s because everybody feels entitled to superior Healthcare, besides their societal status. In true reform this would be painful, but people aren’t in it for the long term healing. Everybody wants a quick fix to the issue,” Polk said.
Junior and International business major, Justin Bitensky said, “I pay thousands of dollars a year for private insurance and see no real benefits. People who pay nothing will soon be getting the same or better Healthcare than me.”
For others, the issue doesn’t seem to bother them.
Patrick Murray, a senior at UT said he didn’t care about the Healthcare bill.
“I’m on my parent’s until I’m 24,” Murray said. “So whatever, I’ll worry about it later.”