Equal Access To Health Care Discussion

Discussionsequal Access To Health Carethis Discussion Presents The Opp

Discussions Equal Access to Health Care This discussion presents the opportunity for you to address the inequality of access to health care in the United States using moral and ethical reasoning. There is overwhelming evidence that social inequalities affect health outcomes. Many argue that lack of health care access due to poverty is a human rights concern in the United States that should be subject to public and social justice inquiry. As such, the Affordable Care Act was implemented to promote health equity. While there are some that have reported favorable outcomes with respect to health care access, others have reported unfavorable experiences.

What is your perspective on the ethics of providing universal health care to all U.S. citizens, and how well do you think the Affordable Care Act has addressed this cause? Prepare an academically-informed post to address this question. In doing so, consider both the ethical and moral reasons for supporting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and also a possible shortfall or problem with this policy. You may talk about your own experiences but must also use academic research to support your arguments. Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length.

Support your claims with examples from the required resources and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7. Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.

Paper For Above instruction

Ensuring equitable access to healthcare in the United States is a complex ethical issue that intertwines human rights, social justice, and public health policy. The principle of justice, as emphasized in ethical frameworks such as utilitarianism and deontology, advocates for the fair distribution of healthcare resources regardless of socioeconomic status. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 aimed to address these disparities by expanding access to health insurance, prohibiting denial based on pre-existing conditions, and mandating individual coverage requirements (Sparer & Jacobson, 2013). From a moral perspective, providing universal healthcare aligns with the moral obligation to promote well-being and reduce suffering, affirming the value of each human life (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). Furthermore, social justice theories argue that healthcare access should be a fundamental human right, reflecting societal commitment to equity and fairness (Danis & Ross, 2020).

The ACA has made significant strides towards improving access, reducing uninsured rates from approximately 16% in 2010 to around 9% by 2015 (Kenney et al., 2016). It facilitated the creation of health insurance exchanges, Medicaid expansion in many states, and preventive care coverage without cost-sharing. These measures have contributed to better health outcomes and decreased disparities among vulnerable populations, such as racial minorities and low-income groups (Schoen et al., 2015). However, the policy's effectiveness has been undermined by political opposition, fragmented implementation, and gaps in coverage—particularly in states that declined Medicaid expansion (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020). Consequently, millions remain uninsured or underinsured, experiencing barriers to timely and quality healthcare.

Ethically, the shortcomings of the ACA highlight persistent injustices that challenge the moral imperative of equitable access. The policy, while a step forward, has not fully eradicated health disparities, exemplifying the limitations of policy-driven solutions in addressing systemic social inequalities. As healthcare professionals and policymakers grapple with these issues, it remains essential to uphold the moral commitment to health equity and explore further reforms that move closer to universal coverage. These reforms must ensure that all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status, can access high-quality, affordable healthcare, reinforcing the ethical principle that health is a fundamental human right (Whitehead, 2020).

In conclusion, supporting universal healthcare through ethical reasoning and social justice principles underscores the moral obligation to uphold human dignity and promote societal well-being. While the ACA has made meaningful improvements, ongoing challenges necessitate continued efforts towards health equity, reflecting the moral and ethical imperative to ensure no one is left behind in accessing healthcare services.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Danis, M., & Ross, L. (2020). Social justice and healthcare equity. Oxford University Press.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2020). Disparities in health coverage and access in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org
• Kenney, G. M., Buettgens, M., Clary, C., & Huntress, M. (2016). The impact of the Affordable Care Act on insurance coverage and access to care. Urban Institute.
• Sparer, M. S., & Jacobson, J. (2013). The future of the Affordable Care Act. JAMA, 310(17), 1811–1812.
• Schoen, C., Osborn, R., Squires, D., Doty, M., Pierson, R., & Applebaum, S. (2015). How health insurance design affects access to care and costs, by income, in eleven countries. Health Affairs, 34(8), 1347–1355.
• Whitehead, M. (2020). The health equity challenge. BMJ, 370, m3030.