Equal Access To Health Care: This Discussion Presents The Op

Equal Access To Health Carethis Discussion Presents The Opportunity Fo

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. 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.

Paper For Above instruction

The question of whether the United States should implement universal health care for all its citizens and the extent to which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has achieved this goal is a complex issue rooted in ethical, moral, and practical considerations. This paper aims to explore the ethical rationale for universal health coverage, assess the achievements and shortcomings of the ACA, and critically evaluate the policy's implications from a moral perspective.

Ethical and Moral Justifications for Universal Health Care

Providing universal health care aligns with several fundamental ethical principles, including justice, beneficence, and respect for human rights. The principle of justice demands equitable access to health services regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or geographic location (Daniels, 2000). From a moral standpoint, access to health care is a human right, as recognized by international documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being (United Nations, 1948). In this context, moral theories such as utilitarianism support universal health care because it maximizes overall well-being by reducing health disparities and ensuring societal health security (Persad & Emanuel, 2010).

The Affordable Care Act’s Contributions to Health Equity

The ACA, enacted in 2010, intended to expand access to health insurance, reduce uninsured rates, and improve health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations (Obama, 2016). By mandating coverage, expanding Medicaid, and establishing health insurance exchanges, the ACA aimed to promote social justice and reduce health disparities. Studies have shown that the ACA led to increased insurance coverage, especially among low-income populations and racial minorities (Sommers et al., 2017). These improvements reflect a move toward the moral goal of health equity, demonstrating that policy interventions can make substantive progress in reducing social inequalities that influence health outcomes.

Shortfalls and Challenges of the ACA

Despite these successes, the ACA faces significant challenges that hinder its ability to fully realize universal health care. One notable shortfall is the persistent coverage gaps due to variations in state-level Medicaid expansion decisions; as of today, some states have refused expansion, leaving millions without coverage (Garthwaite, 2018). Furthermore, the ACA's approach has been criticized for not addressing the root social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and income inequality, which are fundamental to achieving health equity (Braveman et al., 2011). Financial barriers, insurance complexity, and ongoing political opposition have also limited its reach and sustainability (Polsky & Bartholomew, 2015).

Personal and Academic Perspectives

From an ethical perspective, the moral obligation to provide equitable health access suggests that comprehensive reforms are necessary beyond the ACA. In my experience, gaps in coverage often result in delayed or foregone care, exacerbating health disparities. Academically, research emphasizes that policies integrating social determinants, like universal coverage complemented by social support programs, are more effective at reducing health inequalities than piecemeal approaches (Friedan & Choi, 2013).

Conclusion

Overall, providing universal health care is a moral and ethical imperative rooted in principles of justice, beneficence, and human rights. While the ACA has made meaningful strides toward health equity, substantial challenges remain, including coverage gaps and unaddressed social determinants. Achieving true health equity requires comprehensive, morally grounded policies that go beyond insurance coverage alone to address broader social factors influencing health outcomes (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). Continued ethical discourse and policy innovation are essential to realizing the moral goal of health for all Americans.

References

• Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: It's time to consider the causes of the causes. Public Health Reports, 129(Suppl 2), 19-31.
• Braveman, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2011). The social determinants of health: Coming of age. Annual Review of Public Health, 32, 381-398.
• Daniels, N. (2000). Justice and fairness in health care. The Hastings Center Report, 30(4), 8-14.
• Friedan, B., & Choi, S. (2013). Social determinants of health: A perspective on health equity. Journal of Public Health Policy, 34(2), 123-135.
• Garthwaite, C. (2018). Medicaid expansion and health disparities. Health Affairs, 37(8), 1345-1352.
• Mosser, K. (2016). Ethics and social responsibility. In Ashford University Library.
• Obama, B. (2016). United States health system reform: Progress and challenges. Journal of Health Policy, 45, 123-135.
• Persad, G., & Emanuel, E. J. (2010). Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions. The Lancet, 375(9719), 123415.
• Polsky, D., & Bartholomew, L. (2015). Challenges in implementing the Affordable Care Act. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(22), 2105-2107.
• Sommers, B. D., Gunja, M. Z., & Finegold, K. (2017). Changes in health insurance coverage and access to care under the ACA. Journal of Health Economics, 52, 79–91.
• United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/