Introduction
A person’s ability to receive high-quality medical care is a fundamental right that should not be constrained by their ability to pay or where they live. Access to high-quality healthcare is regarded as a human right, but many face major obstacles (Stajduhar et al., 2019, p. 1). Health insurance’s advantages are undeniable in a world where it may be necessary to access various medical options. Health insurance can change lives by extending networks of healthcare providers and acting as a safety net against excessive medical bills. Unravelling a tapestry of advantages that weaves a better future for people and their families, let us explore the world of health insurance and its enormous impact on access to care.
Benefits of Health Insurance and Its Impact on Access to Care
Health insurance eases the strain of paying for healthcare, giving people financial security. People with insurance coverage have access to negotiated prices and discounted services, which helps lower the high costs of medical care. A person with health insurance might have to pay a copayment or coinsurance for a doctor’s visit or a prescription drug, making it more affordable and available (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2020, p. 2).
Networks of healthcare professionals, such as primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and clinics, are frequently included in health insurance plans. Increased provider networks help people have more options for their healthcare requirements. The ability to select a primary care physician who can coordinate their care, refer them to specialists, and offer preventive services is made possible by insurance. Receiving prompt and effective care is more likely because of this access to various providers.
Barriers to Healthcare Access and Strategies for Overcoming Them
Despite the advantages of health insurance, several obstacles may make it difficult to receive care. Many people may need help with the expense of healthcare services and insurance payments. Policymakers should consider extending Medicaid eligibility to additional low-income people to solve this and provide subsidies for people buying insurance through the exchanges. Individuals can get affordable care and make educated decisions using price transparency initiatives.
The scarcity of healthcare professionals poses a problem for many underserved regions and rural areas. This may restrict access to hospitals, specialist treatments, and general care. Initiatives should concentrate on increasing the healthcare workforce, rewarding physicians for practicing in underserved areas, and implementing telemedicine programs to narrow the communication gap between patients and clinicians to overcome this obstacle.
The Affordable Care Act and Key Provisions Influencing Patient Care
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a comprehensive healthcare reform program adopted in the US. It is intended to increase consumer safeguards, improve care quality, and increase access to affordable healthcare. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which was signed into law on March 23, 2010, is the law that has had the biggest impact on how health care is delivered in the United States (Zhao et al., 2020, p. 3).
The ACA forbids insurance providers from excluding customers or raising prices due to pre-existing conditions. This clause guarantees that those with pre-existing diseases, such as diabetes or cancer, will not face discrimination and can get insurance. This improves access to care for people with long-term illnesses. Under the ACA, insurance programs must provide certain essential health advantages, such as maternity care, prescription medications, preventive care, and mental health services. The act guarantees people full coverage by requiring certain essential treatments, preventing insurance companies from excluding critical healthcare services.
Conclusion
Health insurance facilitated access to care in several ways, including financial security and widened provider networks. However, access may need to be improved due to cost and regional scarcity. Some of these difficulties are addressed by the Affordable Care Act’s provisions, which include pre-existing condition coverage and essential health benefits. Policymakers should concentrate on removing financial obstacles, resolving the scarcity of healthcare workers, and providing equitable access to care for all people to enhance access significantly.
References
Stajduhar, K. I., Mollison, A., Giesbrecht, M., McNeil, R., Pauly, B., Reimer-Kirkham, S., & Rounds, K. (2019). “Just too busy living in the moment and surviving”: barriers to accessing health care for structurally vulnerable populations at end-of-life. BMC Palliative Care, 18(1), 1-14. Web.
Teitelbaum, J. B., & Wilensky, S. E. (2020). Essentials of health policy and law. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Zhao, J., Mao, Z., Fedewa, S. A., Nogueira, L., Yabroff, K. R., Jemal, A., & Han, X. (2020). The Affordable Care Act and access to care across the cancer control continuum: a review at 10 years. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 70(3), 165-181. Web.