A failed attempt at improving the US healthcare system

Hannah Harnest
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

The news is out. After a busy few weeks, we know since Tuesday, 18th July, that Trumps efforts to improve the US health care system have failed, and that the GOP’s bill, intended to repeal and replace Obamacare, has died — for now.

People’s opinions at the NYU Langone Medical Center at 550, 1st Avenue were divided on the issues that these recent political developments have raised.

Nola Munk, a 54-year-old nurse from Jamaica, who has lived and worked in New York City for 28 years, said that it’s not good to replace Obamacare with Trump’s new plan — on the contrary, Obamacare should be improved. ‘Costs within the affordable care system have recently been going up, why don’t politicians concentrate on solving that, and keep Obamacare as it is?’

The receptionist at Langone, who prefers to remain unidentified, comes from Brooklyn, although his parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. He thought it’s also better to keep Obamacare, instead of a new health care system. ‘You know, it always takes a long time to replace something in the system. If the government will replace Obamacare, a lot of people will suffer in the meantime. As a result, those who can’t afford to pay the new premiums will be left out from the health insurance system.’ He thought that Obamacare is better than nothing at all. ‘There is no perfect health plan’, he added.

The 42-year-old student Nathan You, on the contrary, thinks that Trump is a good politician and will make it right. ‘Roger Stone is a great adviser, too, and I have confidence in them both. I trust Trump, and I am sure that he will keep his electoral promises to give America an improved health care system’.

‘Obamacare is terrible! I can’t wait for it to be replaced!’, said 40-year-old Anthony Davies who works for the City of New York. He has a private insurance and doesn’t want to keep paying for other poorer people’s insurance through tax redistribution. ‘That’s not fair!’, he said. ‘If people have two legs and two hands, they should work. I do that every day. I don’t know what the future will bring, but I hope Trump will make the insurance system better, let’s see’.

People’s opinions at NYU Langone Medical Center are as diversified as their occupations or backgrounds. They even have a ‘Doctor Radio’ station there that broadcasts health & medical information.

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    Hannah Harnest

    Written by

    Finding your Identity through Food

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