Reference no: EM133517883

Case Study: Access to healthcare insurance has been a standing health issue in the United States. Millions of Americans report having difficulty paying their medical bills. Thus, healthcare costs can be the difference between optimal quality of life and a greater burden of disease. While the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, has led to a decrease in the number of Americans without healthcare insurance, the overall ability of the ACA to alleviate the burden of excessive medical care costs is still being debated.

This week, you will learn about the history of governmental insurance options that have led to the Affordable Care Act. You will have the opportunity to understand how health policy implementation has the ability to impact the entire population and can play a critical role in the viability of the US economy. While reviewing this information, please keep in mind that many changes to the ACA occur on a yearly basis. For example, the length of enrollment dates, surprise medical bill protections, marketplace subsidies to reduce costs, increased coverage for patient navigators, etc. are changes that occurred in the year 2022. Each of these changes have the capacity to profoundly affect populations, with respect to the presence of health disparities and inequities.

Using the weekly readings, the South University online library resources, and the Internet, research the major differences between Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act.

Based on your research, respond to the following:

Question 1: How do you think current health policy legislation associated with Medicare, Medicaid, The Children's Health Insurance Program, and the ACA impacts the development of health disparities within your community and state?

Question 2: Based on health disparities discussed in your previous answer, what specific changes would you recommend to increase health equity within your community and state? Please make sure that you define health equity and incorporate information associated with the Social Determinants of Health within your answer.