It will not be long before the Affordable Care Act or what it is known as, Obamacare, takes effect. Like Social Security and Medicare before it, the Affordable Care Act, has not come about without great debate and controversy. We are about to witness the implementation of the ACA.

Many years before the issue of whether health is a right or a privilege arose in Great Britain, when one of my political heroes, Winston Churchill, came before the Royal College of Physicians to discuss the topic of health.

” The discoveries of healing science must be the inheritance of all. That is clear. Disease must be attacked, whether it occurs in the poorest or the richest of man or woman simply on the ground that it is the enemy, and it must be attacked just in the same way as the fire brigade will give its full assistance to the humblest cottage as readily as to the most important mansion. Our policy is to create a national health service in order to ensure that everybody in the country, irrespective of means, age, sex or occupation, shall have equal opportunities to benefit from the best and most up to date medical and allied services available.”

This quote came from not just a conservative but a great leader. This speech given by Winston Churchill came during World War II, when foxholes knew not whether you were wealthy or poor.

We, Americans, owe no less of an obligation to ensure that those who are ravaged by disease have an opportunity for good health.

Americans have a health care for profit system that for years has denied coverage to those among us who suffer from a pre-existing condition. No one should be denied coverage because due to no fault of their own they are sick. This is unconscionable and immoral.

Pre-existing conditions will no be permitted under the ACA.

No one in need of surgery will have to face the prospect that the insurance company will deny service due to rescission. Rescission occurs when, although a doctor has signed off on a patient needing surgery, the company finds something in the patients medical history that differed from what the client said in an application for insurance so thereby allowing the company to rescind the contract.

Millions of Americans will be covered by insurance, when they were not insured before. No longer will they need to go to the emergency room for their medical care.

Insurance companies will be required to put 85% of the premiums they receive back into health care instead of into their pockets.

And for seniors out there, no the ACA, will not impact your Medicare.

Ladies and gentlemen, a lot of what I am saying comes from my knowledge as an insurance agent. I have already seen premiums come down for individuals in need of health insurance.

It used to be the case that those who are between the ages of 60-64, suffered from very high premiums and high deductibles. Now as we approach the implementation of Obamacare, those premiums are coming down.

All of these examples should be good news for consumers.

America will join many European countries who have a combination of private and government subsidized medical insurance, such as such countries as Germany which offers three plans. The Netherlands and France also offer insurance that is a combination of two approaches.

My daughter lives in England. England is among many countries that offer a national health service to their citizens.

America is a great country but we can learn from other countries who have for years believed as Winston Churchill did, that everyone deserves the opportunity to have the best medical service available, no matter if you are rich or poor. Disease needs to be attacked just like Churchill so wisely spoke of as if your neighbor’s house was on fire. Sickness needs to be attacked for it truly is the enemy for all of us, for without health we have nothing but misery.

For those who truly believe that the government should stay out of your health insurance, I ask you to realize that our government has an obligation under our Constitution to promote and to provide for our general welfare. We do not live on an island, alone and only dependent on ourselves but rather in a nation and in a community where we are truly our brother’s keeper.