Understanding the Affordable Care Act Joshua Meribole – Staff Writer Most People in the United States Receive Health Insurance Through Their Employer
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Marching Diamond Women Students into ranks Defend win History jobs on March National campus Awards page 3 page 5 page 8 page 9 February 6, 2017 Issue 2 Follow us online Repeal and replace: Understanding the Affordable Care Act Joshua Meribole – Staff Writer Most people in the United States receive health insurance through their employer. As such, the Promising that he will “repeal and replace” ACA’s purpose was to provide insurance for Obamacare – known officially as the Affordable the 42 million who were uninsured, especially Care Act (ACA) – on his second day in office, those individuals with pre-existing conditions newly elected President Donald Trump issued or those who are self-employed. These people an executive order to repeal the healthcare bill. are considered to be high-risk, and are placed The executive order will give health care in a high-risk pool, by insurance companies. providers a choice in how these companies Being a member of a high-risk pool means that interpret various aspects of the Affordable Care an above-average amount of money is needed Act. to pay for that individual’s healthcare. The Congressional Budget Office said that ACA aimed at closing the gap between the if portions of the ACA are removed and others insured and the uninsured. In the past, the remain, approximately 18 million people will increasing cost of health care forced people be left without insurance. to spend a greater percentage of their incomes According to President Trump’s website, his on healthcare. However, when the ACA was vision for health care is to “create a patient- introduced in 2010, it eliminated annual Contributed Photo centered health care system that promotes maximums and preexisting condition issues and people to buy insurance. Since 2010, premiums longer just one person demanding that their choice, quality and affordability.” Trump also increased Medicaid. Medicaid uses taxpayer have increased substantially and therefore healthcare be covered by someone else, but seeks to give states more control over how to money to subsidize healthcare costs for those imposed the opposite effect that the plan was millions, all using the government as their administer Medicaid. who cannot afford it. intended to have. hitman—which of course gets its own cut for Donald Roth, professor of criminal justice, The ACA also pushed for hospitals to become “The problem with the Affordable Care Act is doing the dirty work in the name of the public said the actual effect of President’s Trump’s more technology-focused, a change that most it doesn’t quite take a free market approach… good.” “repeal and replace” could take more than 5 people did not a problem with. more of a conservative approach,” said Roth. Holly Hiemstra, a sophomore nursing major, years to come into effect. Even though the ACA People were not happy with the economic And yet, he said, “it doesn’t quite take a liberal, experienced the effects of ACA first hand. was introduced in 2010, some aspects of the bill impact of the ACA, for the expansion of you know, state-provided insurance approach… “From what I have observed, it has caused have yet to be put into effect. Medicaid caused an increase in taxes and forced it does not accomplish either.” a lot of confusion,” said Hiemstra. “I have Contributed Photo “This is an instance where compromising is interacted with patients, and they do not know not a good thing,” said Roth. if they are covered...it’s very vague.” Cadean Tinklenberg, President of Student Yet other students are not so opposed to former Symposium, shared his opinion on the ACA. President Barack Obama’s healthcare bill. “Most people would think it absurd if I “I like the idea behind it,” said Jonathan walked up to a random guy on the street, stuck Beltman, a sophomore history and political a gun to his head and forced him to pay my science major. “I am in favor of getting people medical bills,” Tinklenburg said. “Likewise, easier access to healthcare and medical needs.” most people would think it absurd if I stuck up “There is room to repeal and replace,” 100 people and demanded they each pay their Beltman said. “However, a transition is needed ‘fair share’ of my medical bills.” to move between Trump’s repeal and replace “Yet, many of the same people repulsed by and when it is put into place.” the thought of me using violence directly to pay President Trump and other Republicans have my bills have no problem with the government begun to make changes to Obamacare. However, doing literally the same thing. Now the gun is it could be years before change becomes reality. held by the government and the cost is spread over 200 million people. Moreover, it’s no Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match Jenna Wilgenburg – Staff Writer The multiple-choice questions ranged from only given the first names of these individuals. “What height do you prefer?” and “How late Two compatibility percentages were given Back in the day, 25 cents proved valuable. do you stay up on the weekends?” to “What do for each name – the chance they would like With just one coin, you could take your turn at you think of ‘ring by spring?’” Each survey was the participant, and the chance the participant the kissing booth. sent off to a fundraising website and matched would like them. Yet over years of rising inflation, not even the up with other participants’ surveys according to The Matchmaker Extraordinaire functioned as pursuit of love and romance could be spared. responses. The results were then distributed to a fundraiser for the Psych Club. Until now. participants. “It’s just a fun, quirky thing,” said Jenna In lieu of Valentine’s Day, for little more than Given two dollars and pressured to fill out a Van Ravenswaay, Psych Club president. “It’s the cost of a load of laundry, Dordt students survey by his friend, sophomore Justin Banks not like we’re trying to get the MRS degree might be able to find new love, a new friend or chose to participate. happening. If something comes of it, so be it.” at least a good laugh thanks to the Psychology “I don’t really feel desperate,” he said. “I feel One hundred and sixty-four students Club. like I just maximized the opportunity that was participated in this pre-Valentine’s Day event. Essentially, Dordt created its own version of given to me at the time.” Some students have no intention of meeting Christian Mingle. Banks thinks the Matchmaker Extraordinaire a spouse in college, but terms such as “ring During the “Love is in the Air: Matchmaker could become a “Dordt-ified” version of by spring,” “freshman frenzy” and “senior Extraordinaire,” members of the Psych Club matchmaking websites. scramble” are common jargon around Dordt’s attempted to arrange students with prospective The Matchmaker Extraordinaire provided campus. Whether students filled out the surveys love interests and possible friends. At the end names for possible love interests, as well as the with hopes of finding a valentine, meeting of January, club members set up tables in the names of participants’ same gender who could new friends or just participating for kicks, Commons and Grille area and invited students match up as potential friends. For two dollars, the Matchmaker Extraordinaire provided to fill out a 36-question survey. For those too they received their top 15 matches of both participants with lists of names to stalk on DCC, shy to fill out a survey in front of their buddies, males and females from their own year, the top and maybe – just maybe – the spark needed to the club also made a link available that allowed 10 matches from other years and the top five set off a new relationship. students to take the survey from the privacy of least-compatible matches. They also received their dorm rooms. the names of two mystery matches and were page 2 · News · Dordt students aid the state Coffee Beant: The Fruited of Iowa Plain Jaden Vander Berg – News Editor “I don’t get the obsession with coffee and Lydia Marcus – Staff Writer literacy standards are released this summer. coffee shops, but I like the price and their gelato “It was really discouraging to face the fact that Walking up to the ordinary brick building on smoothies,” junior Clarissa Kraayenbrink said, The Dordt College Center for Economics Miranda and I had to basically realign everything N. Main Avenue, you would expect the Fruited in reference to Two Dollar Tuesdays. Education (CEE) helped the Iowa Department that had been completed that summer, but it was Plain to be like every other “hipster coffee The location is perfect for a college of Education (DOE) develop new standards exciting to hear that new standards with broader shop.” community, as it is within walking distance of for economics and financial literacy. These ideas and more applicability were coming up,” But walking in the door, you are hit with campus. standards will be released in the summer of Ponsen said. a warm, welcoming vibe, not at all what you “It’s a chill place off-campus to hang out with 2017, and Dordt students have been involved in “I think the new standards will be easier for anticipated. friends and enjoy a good cup of joe,” senior the process through the CEE. teachers to use in their classroom.” Scattered throughout the café are booths, Mikaela Kiers said. CEEs are resources for K-12 teachers that aim In the fall, Hulstein accompanied Dordt CEE tables and worn couches reminding you of Senior Jaden Vander Berg enjoys a quiet to help these men and women gain the skills Director Vicki Vermeer to Des Moines, where home.