The new Health Care Reform Act introduced some ethical issues of justice to the individual, communities, and struggle in legislature on how to provide a quality health care without sacrificing or hindering the rights of a few people. The decision by the Supreme Court in 2012 upheld the constitution of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was first introduced in 2010. This act provided some outline to states, the insurance companies, employers, and the consumer on what was required for them to do when the law came into force in 2014.

The priorities that are assigned to the goals for our society involving this affordable health care have various differences in their priorities (Sorrell, 2012). There exists social injustices when everyone is not treated equally (Grace & Willis, 2012). It impedes on the rights of some citizens to liberty and justice per John Rawls (1971) a philosopher. Rawls states liberty should be balanced among the fortunate and less fortunate.

Much of the PPACA (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) has been misinterpreted by legislation, as many think it is a move towards socialism with the government controlling health care (Sorrell) since the act requires all citizens to purchase a health care program or be penalized.

There has also been concern about who will be covered when it comes to immigrants. It does anticipate improved coverage for about 30 million people, but no anticipation for undocumented residents to be covered. Nor does it provide for a free care program for non-U.S. citizens (Sorrell).

The death panels is also a subject that has been discussed because of the importance of individual liberty in the health reform debate (American College of Emergency Physicians, 2011). The publicity includes whether the physician panels will decide which older adult will receive ongoing care. These any other efforts to reform the U.S. health care system have avoided, for the most part, discussions surrounding human rights (Gable, 2011). When it is perceived as a human right rather than an option or privilege, it can embrace a more moral atmosphere.

The right to the adequate amount of health care and the opportunity to enjoy being healthy was introduced by Franklin Roosevelt in the Second Bill of Rights (USHistory.org, 1944/2012). Vecchione, A., 2012 states the mere idea that the individual mandate is required of all American who meet a certain lists of requirements to purchase health insurance is unethical because it takes away the right to choose. It also questions the government in its role of enforcing healthcare mandates on all citizens.

The debate over health care reform has been one of the most divisive issues in our country’s history. Like always, people begin discussing political solutions about something before anyone really understands the issues. Politics become messy, but health care is costly and the United States spends more on health care than any other nation in the world, but our citizens are still not as healthy (Sullivan, D., 2012). The cost of health care is another major ethical concern.

The cost of malpractice law suits has driven up the cost of health care premiums, and this has caused the medical professionals to become defensive in their attitudes towards the reform act. In addition to this problem, the economic recession has ushered in high unemployment rates. Other concerns include the fact that:
The new law does not drive down costs.
Technical innovation and competition will add to the expense of medical test and treatments continuously (Sullivan).
Personally, I feel everyone should have a choice whether they want to be insured by a health care plan and not be forced by the government or anyone else to purchase one, especially those who cannot afford it in the first place. I have found that most policies are overpriced, and are not really priced in proportion to the insurer’s income.