Health care reform: 'wait and see'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and patients are now waiting to see how things play out with health care reform. Some are excited about the possibilities and others are not happy.

For teacher Jackie Wearing health care reform is something she is ready for.

She was laid off in January. Now seven months pregnant, she is collecting unemployment and was given three months insurance coverage from her old job.

She decided COBRA coverage at $1,200 a month is too expensive.

Her husband's company insurance said her pregnancy may be considered a pre-existing condition. She also has a pacemaker for a heart problem that is a pre-existing condition. Wearing said she's always found it odd that people with conditions that need insurance coverage the most - can't get it.

"It seems like that doesn't make sense, so I hope that the bill will change that rule." Wearing said.

24 Hour News 8 spoke with officials at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The non-profit insurance company has always covered patients with pre-existing conditions and said requiring other insurance companies to do the same is a major step forward.

And while many questions remain Blue Cross said the passage of reform requiring everyone to get health insurance will likely have a positive effect on the industry and patients.

"If we get more young and healthy people who today have the option of going without medical coverage. If we get those folks into insurance coverage, that should soften rates for people that are older and less healthy people who need health care services the most." Andy Hetzel, VP Corporate Communications Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan said.

Dr. Frank Belsito runs a family practice for Metro Health. He agrees with covering more people and pre-existing conditions but said new health care reform may overwhelm an already stressed system. Yes, he said doctors will be able to provide preventive care to more patients, like screenings and blood work, but finding specialists willing to accept inferior coverage plans to treat what they find will be difficult.

"I don't think this was done the right way with a lot of thought and process to do it correctly. I didn't understand the urgency." Dr. Belsito said "And I don't think that we fully understand what the cost of this is going to really be."

Spectrum Health System's CEO said they are waiting on reconciliation of the the bill before commenting further.

St. Mary Health Care officials are also analyzing the bill, but said providing coverage for the uninsured is a positive step for the health care system.