Another thing lots of people are concerned about is that the federal debt will explode. The Congressional Budget Office, which is probably the most reliable, nonpartisan number-crunching outfit in Washington, says the reforms will reduce government deficits by $143 billion through 2019, thanks to new taxes and fees and cost savings in government healthcare programs like Medicare.
Doctors will revolt, yet again another concern that people have for the health reform. Doctors don't like the current system, in which insurance companies call the shots. But instead of sweeping reform and more government involvement, they prefer gradual reform that puts more control in the hands of doctors. In one recent survey, nearly one third of physicians said they'd consider leaving medicine if reform passes, which it now has. Doctors worry that the new rules will cut into their incomes, which may happen, eventually. But it's not likely that thousands of doctors who have dedicated years to a complex profession will simply quit. Besides, with millions of new patients seeking care, the demand for doctors will actually rise, not decline. And if cost controls discourage the doctors who are in it to get rich, maybe that will help bring costs down for everybody else. Meanwhile, the American Medical Association and dozens of other physicians' lobbying groups will continue to look out for doctors' interests in Washington.
People that own small or large businesses believe that they will suffer. The new rules will impose fees on businesses with more than 50 employees if their workers receive government subsidies to buy insurance in the form of employer-provided coverage. Business groups complain that this could stunt economic growth and slow