Accessibility to quality healthcare services has been historically hampered by the high cost of vital services especially for patients with preexisting medical conditions. Over the past decades, it has become a divisive political issue with presidential candidates outlining policy blueprints to tackle the problem. This article focuses on one such blueprint proposed by President Donald J. Trump and several GOP senators and policy think tank. The proposed policies are aimed at overhauling the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare; a landmark healthcare policy implemented by President Obama’s administration. The article highlights the weaknesses in the proposals including the likelihood of millions of Americans being left with no healthcare insurance cover due to unaffordability of insurance premiums and ineligibility to Medicaid (Sanger-Katz, 2019). This is because the proposed policies aim at rolling back the gains made by Obamacare which expanded eligibility to Medicaid through restructuring.
Other than restructuring of Medicaid eligibility criteria, the healthcare policy proposed by the White House, Heritage Foundation and Senators Graham and Cassidy also calls for redistribution of healthcare funds to states through block grants. The grants would give states the freedom to spend on the funds based on their individual healthcare systems. However, these proposals are vague on terms of how individuals with preexisting conditions will be covered and how the grants will be expanded in future (Sanger-Katz, 2019).
Healthcare is asocial problem that encompasses various societies beyond the United States of America. Quality, affordable and accessible healthcare is a major policy issue that has dominated discourses beyond the political platforms. Healthcare is a social problem that was widely covered in the class. Additionally, the article on healthcare policy proposals highlights fundamental policy analysis framework. It focuses on the social problem targeted by the policy and the strengths and weaknesses associated with the policy proposals. That is, it focuses on both the political and social dimensions of the policy.
Affordable healthcare is a fundamental challenge for millions of Americans especially the low and mid-income earners who are struggling to pay insurance premiums. Uninsured individuals find it challenging to receive quality healthcare services to the high cost. Moreover, such individuals are forced to pay for healthcare services out of the pockets despite their stretched income. This affects their ability to afford other essential goods and services such as food, school fees and rent. At a macro level, out-of-pocket payment for healthcare services due to lack of insurance coverage also affects an individual’s saving power. Therefore, they are unable to invest. Overall, lack of healthcare insurance and healthcare problems associated with inability to pay for quality services leads to a reduction in per capita consumer spending and saving power.
The issue is well articulated in a flowing manner. Readers are able to follow the author’s train of thought. Moreover, also provides background to the three proposals with a view of validating the article’s argument that the proposals that are being worked on by President Trump’s administration to replace Obamacare are vague, would lead to even a greater number of Americans uninsured and raise the cost of healthcare for many people especially those with preexisting medical conditions. Authenticity and validity of arguments is primarily based on information already in the purview of the general public. This ensures that the point of view of the author is credible. The author discusses the issue in an objective manner. Both the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed policies are discussed. However, the author is committed to conveying the message that the proposals are ambiguous and shorn of details.
Reference
Sanger-Katz, M. (2019 Apr. 5). Trump Is Being Vague About What He Wants to Replace Obamacare. But There Are Clues. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/05/upshot/trump-replacing-obamacare-insurance.html