Health Care Reform Paper
In the United States president Obama was one of the health care reforms champions. He introduced the affordable health care Act that was meant to increase healthcare coverage particularly to the low and middle-class people who were not in a position to afford adequate healthcare. The introduction of the act ensured that people got control of their healthcare. According to this act, people cannot be denied access to health care and have a choice about where to obtain the services. The crucial part of the law is that it provides a cover for preventive care without any additional cost. However, the act also comes with a broad spectrum of complications which are indeed the main components essential to the healthcare system that is discussed in this essay.
Five Elements of the Health Care System
After having a thorough review and analysis of the affordable care act, there is evidence that there are some health care system elements that need reforms as soon as possible if at all we have to meet the primary goal of the health care reform law. Its purpose is to improve the quality of American care at a lower cost. These elements range from health care access, healthcare quality to the affordability of care which is the key focus of the discussion.
Health Insurance Marketplace
The accessibility of health insurance and its application are two different things. The health insurance may be accessible, but its application becomes quite a challenge. The market place for health insurance should be set in a way that individuals are in a position to apply for it at their convenience. Whatever the method of application whether online or at the healthcare facility, persons should be allowed to put in their information at their convenience to have immediate health care coverage access. The program should operate as an open enrolled program. However, since some states operate differently under the federally funded program this is not usually the case. Some health insurance marketplaces have imposed a timeline and strict deadlines for applications of the coverage limiting the number of people accessing the insurance cover. Another aspect is that the health insurance market place aims at providing the coverage to all persons including the employed and those not employed. Unfortunately not all the employers offer the insurance and therefore such people are forced to pay the amount by themselves which is deducted from the individual income. The reforms in the health insurance market place should ensure that there is no limitation on when to get the cover as well as the individual incurs no penalties as a result of the employer’s fault.
Access to Quality of Care
One of the most important aspects of affordable care act brings access to quality care. The healthcare law reform has as a matter of facts significantly contributed to changing the lives of the Americans through ensuring easy aces of care that meets quality standards. Accessibility of quality care is a crucial tool in providing the health care system primary focus is on patients. However, reform is necessary for this element by focusing not only on insurance coverage as a way of accessing quality care but also consider the facilities as well as the physicians. It is essential that much emphasis is put on putting up more facilities as well as employing more physicians who are also crucial elements of accessibility to quality care. More so focus should also be placed on the issue of medical cost that is equally a critical aspect when it comes to receiving as well as having access to care services. More often overlooking such issues have challenged the accessibility to quality healthcare. For example in some cases, individuals overpay for services rendered in healthcare institutions due to the variation between the actual calculations and what the insurance says which is a factor that can limit access to quality care due to high-cost charges. policies should be implemented to restrict and control the pricing of healthcare services which will ensure that most people get access to care through reduced cost of services
Pre-existing Condition
Another element that needs urgent reform is that of pre-existing condition.as much as the affordable care act increases health care coverage, issue of the pre-existing condition remains undefined. Some health insurance companies do not cover a pre-existing condition. More so it is one of the reasons why we have a high cost of insurance coverage as well as discrimination where some people are denied the coverage. The issue should have an urgent reform to ensure that equity and fairness are maintained among the Americans seeking the coverage, whether all not they have had a pre-existing condition should not be a determinant of whether or not they get the insurance coverage. Some of the vital reform in this element is evidenced in the case of the healthcare reform law which prohibits denial of health care average for a reason of having a pre-existing condition. The most important reform in this element is to ensure that all the preexisting conditions are covered which will subsequently bring togetherness among the insured and noninsured.
Insurance Rates
The rates of health insurance is also another important aspect that needs some reforms. Among the primary goals of the Affordable Care Act is to ensure that even the low and middle-income earners can have access to insurance coverage which provides them with an opportunity to have access to universal health care. However, this may not be the case because some people may not be in a position to acquire the insurance coverage due to the high insurance rates. Some of the factors that are associated with the increased rates of insurance include alcohol consumption, smoking, and area of residence as well as age. Such factors increase the chances of having health conditions and therefore contributing to the case on increased insurance rates. However even in consideration of such factors complication of having an insurance plan that is expensive is equally detrimental especially to the people who are currently uninsured as well, as the low and middle-income earners. Therefore the insurance rates should be regulated if at all universal health care coverage has to be attained.
Dependents Coverage
Another important aspect that needs to be put into consideration when it comes to reforms is the coverage of the dependent. The years of dependent coverage should be increased until the age of adult hold where one can pay for his or her insurance covers. A good example is what is contained in the affordable care act where the maximum age of being a dependent to the parent’s health insurance is twenty-six. This provides an opportunity even to the college students to get access to health care services under their parents cover. With this kind of reform, it becomes easier for the adulthood transition. A twenty-six-year person is old enough to be employed and have the capability of being under his or her own cover. Such kind of reform is necessary since it makes it easier to transit from parent insurance cover to personal protection and subsequently to increase the coverage.
Conclusion
Some people may view affordable care act as one that is complicated, but it has provided the beginning of essential health care reforms. Although some of the health law provisions that may affect some individuals it remains one most effective health care law in the health care system. When there is a discussion regarding health care reforms, the act is always quoted. It is, therefore, the high time that we embrace the many changes in health care for our better future.