Health Care and Insurance Coverage: Addressing Access Barriers and Policy Solutions in the United States
Overview
This paper examines the multifaceted challenges of health care access and insurance coverage in the United States, focusing on medication costs, socio-economic disparities, and the uninsured population. It analyzes existing initiatives such as Medicaid Expansion and the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace as potential solutions to reduce the current 15.5% uninsured rate.
What this essay covers
- Introduction: Overview of health care access challenges including medication costs and insurance gaps
- History: Documentation of rising medication prices with evidence from AARP and CNN sources
- Socio-Economic Background: Analysis of how poverty, age, and education affect insurance access
- Gap Effect and Implications: Discussion of limited access to care and strain on the health care system
- Existing Initiatives: Description of Medicaid Expansion and Healthcare Insurance Marketplace programs
- Specific Goals: Target of reducing uninsured population from current 15.5%
Preview
Health Care and Insurance Coverage
Milestone
1/06/2020
Health Care and Insurance Coverage
Introduction
Access to health care in the United States is a challenge for many of its citizens for a long time; the challenges range from expensive medications, poor quality health care, and a high number of people who lack insurance covers. One of the problems in the health care system is the overpricing of medication for chronic illnesses that majorly affects the elderly. Treatment for chronic diseases is barely affordable.
History
Over the years, the prices of various medicines have continued to rise. A chart on an AARP article clearly shows a significant increase of $4019 in the brand cost of mostly used and prescribed drugs. In an article published on CNN, prices of major prescribe medications and prescriptions for senior citizens has increased about ten times the annual inflation rate over the last five years. The article is based on findings of a congressional report that was published recently.
Socio-Economic Background
Socio-economic factors play a significant role in how individuals access health care. Among the most affected are people living in poverty, the elderly, uneducated persons, and low-income earners. A survey, the Commonwealth Fund's ACA Tracking Survey, found uninsured people are low-income earners. Those living in poverty seldom afford to pay for their health insurance, raising the percentage of uninsured people in the United States. This makes it hard for them to access medical services. Some elderly persons in society do not own a retirement insurance plan.