Introduction
This paper will examine Affordable Care Act (ACA), which aims at improving healthcare accessibility. The ACA is a federal policy, which solves the issues of health provision by subsidizing health insurance. Consequently, it expands insurance coverage and lowers the costs of healthcare (Rosenbaum, 2011). The policy directs insurance firms to offer standard minimum charges to applicants despite their pre-existing conditions.
Social issue tackled by the ACA
Problem to be solved
The ACA addresses the issues of healthcare provision by lowering the costs and improving access to medical services. Low-income earners have access to better healthcare which enhances the quality of life. Also, the policy reduces the costs of managing chronic health conditions such as heart diseases and obesity.
History of the issue of healthcare provision the US
Before the ACA was implemented, about 129 million Americans would face discrimination due to conditions such as diabetes and cancer (Simas, 2014). Pregnant women could also face discrimination at the medical facilities. Additionally, treating some illnesses was very costly. Different reputable publications indicate that there were problems in the healthcare sector before the enactment of the ACA. Abelson (2002) notes that the costs of health care were increasing by a double-digit in 2002 that forced the employers to provide few health plans. Porter (2004), states that the increase in costs of worker health insurance is a remarkable aspect in the job slump. These examples exhibit that access to medical care was a challenge before the ACA became law.
Theories about the cause of the problems in healthcare provision
Various theories explain the problems in the healthcare provisions. Postmodernism is one of the theories that trigger the costs of health care. Healthcare facilities apply modern technologies to suit the changes in health conditions. The technologies are costly and have high maintenance costs, which consequently increase the costs of care. In turn, insurance companies increase their coverage charges. Another theory that elevates the costs of healthcare is the social construction. Notably, some individuals are low-income earners while others are rich. These aspects create differences in access to medical care services in the US. The financial status of a person influences the ability to live a healthier lifestyle. Economic status also affects the costs of health insurance coverage. Insurance companies tend to adjust their charges to match the economic conditions. Hence, factors such as monetary policy influence the costs of insurance cover.
I think the technological advancement and economic status are the key factors that cause problems in the provision of healthcare.
Objectives, expectations, values, and target population
Stated objectives
The overall mission of the ACA is to expand insurance coverage to all Americans and eliminate problems in the provision of health care. The ACA aims at compelling the insurance companies to offer similar cover to people despite the pre-existing status (Silvers, 2013). This aspect ensures equal premium charges to applicants. Also, ACA aims at establishing minimum application standards for all citizens. Another objective of the ACA is instituting an individual mandate. However, the federal offers subsidies to assists low-income earners to fulfill the mandate.
Covert objectives
One of the hidden aims of the ACA is to change medical decisions. Importantly, through the individual mandate, people are forced to make decisions regarding their health. Also, doctors and insurance companies are compelled to make decisions that favor the citizens. The ACA also aims at creating a way through which employers share their profits with the employees. This idea is justified by the fact that companies pay the employees health insurance premiums.
Values
The values underlying the ACA include the provision of equal healthcare for all Americans, helping the low-income earners to access medical care and promoting good health for all citizens. The values disclosed by the written and hidden objectives include promotion of better living standards, enhancing fair treatment of employees and improving working standards. Additionally, the ACA seeks to eliminate manipulation of the citizens by the insurance companies.
Policymaker’s expectations
The federal government expects Americans to receive better and affordable medical care from the medical institutions. Further, the federal government expects the insurers to charge equal premiums to applicants despite their pre-existing conditions. The state governments expect that insurance companies will stop discriminating Americans who suffer from chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and cancer.
Target groups of the population
The ACA is meant for low-income earners, but they must be legal American citizens. Legal immigrants are also eligible to apply. However, not all poor citizens have access to this subsidized medical insurance. An applicant should have an income of 138% of the FPL (Hahn and Sheingold, 2013). The aged and disabled individuals also qualify for the ACA. The indirect targets of the ACA include the unborn children since expectant mothers qualify for this policy. The federal government defines these requirements. Nevertheless, eligibility for this system varies from one state to another.
Effects of the ACA
Intended effects
The federal government intended to offer better health security for citizens. Also, the government aims at expanding coverage to millions of Americans (Hahn and Sheingold, 2013). It wanted to hold the insurer accountable, reduce the cost of medical care and offer more choices. The overall intention of the federal government was to improve the standards of care the citizens.
Unintended effects
Despite the good intentions, ACA has caused some unintended impacts. The policy has affected the job market adversely. Some employers hire part-time workers to avoid paying healthcare premiums. Evidently, a high number of people have lost their full-time jobs since the implementation of the ACA. Also, the policy increases a tax burden on the citizens. Some individuals cut their expenditure to meet their health insurance premiums.
Short-term and long run impacts of ACA
Short-term impacts
The ACA increases tax burned to the citizens despite the federal subsidies. Also, in short-term the ACA has led to the loss of jobs since some employers strive to lower the costs of production.
Long-term impacts
In the long-run, the ACA will ensure better care for all citizens. The policy will also lead to the creation of employment in the health care sector. The policy will also devise better-working conditions for the employees in various industries.
Consequences of the ACA
Changes in allocation of materials
The ACA has caused remarkable changes in the distribution of income. Some individuals have lost full-time jobs, which impact their earnings adversely. The employers are compelled to share their profits with the employees by paying their tax premiums.
Changes in delivery of services
Conversely, the ACA has brought equality in the delivery of health care services. All Americans who have applied for this service have access to affordable health care. The poor citizens can now access medical services that were initially meant for the wealthy.
Alternative policies
The alternatives of the ACA include the Medicaid and Medicare. These alternatives can still address the issue of health care provision and still promote social justice. These two alternatives were already in existence before the implementation of the ACA. However, both Medicaid and Medicare do not offer comprehensive cover. Notably, the ACA is simply an extension of the Medicaid. The two options can provide health care to special groups such as the poor, low-income earners, the aged and disabled. Nevertheless, they will still face issues of discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. Additionally, the cost of insurance cover will be high.
References
Abelson, R. (2002). Hard decisions for employers as costs soar in health care. Business. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/18/business/hard-decisions-for-employers-as-costs-soar-in-health-care.html
Hahn, J. A., & Sheingold, B. H. (2013). Medicaid Expansion: The Dynamic Health Care Policy Landscape. Nursing Economic$, 31(6), 267-297.
Porter, E. (2004, August 19). COST OF BENEFITS CITED AS FACTOR IN SLUMP IN JOBS. Business Day. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/business/cost-of-benefits-cited-as-factor-in-slump-in-jobs.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm&_r=0
Rosenbaum, S. (2011). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice. Public Health Reports, 126(1), 130–135.
Silvers, J. B. (2013). The affordable care act: Objectives and likely results in an imperfect world. The Annals of Family Medicine, 11(5), 402–405
Simas, D. (2014). Health coverage before the ACA, and why all Americans are better off now. Retrieved August 3, 2016, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/23/health-coverage-aca-and-why-all-americans-are-better-now
