Essays on Health Care Disparities

Abstract

This brief essay studied the uninsured and the health care disparities they face. Essential Affordable Care Act provisions and their effects were studied. Critical factors affecting the health care of the uninsured were identified; these included race, ethnicity, income, socioeconomic status, culture, language and income. Several research studies concluded that while access to health care has improved, the quality of this care has not improved for the uninsured. Although the number of uninsured has been reduced dramatically since 2010, insurance costs continue to increase significantly. Failure of states to expand Medicaid benefits has limited uninsured patients’ health care options. ...

Identify 3 Social Determinants of Health in Community

Unemployment, lack of access to affordable healthcare, and lack of proper nutrition and fitness among children and young adults are 3 major social health determinants in the city of Hialeah. The rate of unemployment is 7% which is significantly higher compared to the state average of 5.6% (City of Hialeah 2017). Unemployment leads to various health disparities and social insecurity such as poor nutrition, lack of education, and access to basic healthcare services (Hialeah Healthy Families 2011). Most of the adults in Hialeah have poor education which prevents them from understanding the need to access or use preventative healthcare ...

Introduction

Health policy can be defined as a plan or decision combined with actions to achieve specific healthcare goals by implementing key strategies within the society (WHO, 2016). As per the World Health Organization (WHO), an explicit health policy is known to be associated with several success factors such as development of a vision for the future and establishment of key targets for the short and long-term. Health policies enable organizations, institutes, societies, and groups to define outline, propose new goals, and inculcate different roles across various healthcare sectors (Záliš, et al. 2016). Healthcare policies are known to unite ...

Nurses often play a very critical role in the implementation of healthcare policies; this is because nurses are well conscious and have a better understanding of healthcare systems and delivery mechanisms. Healthcare policy process becomes more efficient and also effective when all relevant stakeholders are involved in its formulation and implementation. The current U.S healthcare system is undergoing a lot of reforms in trying to conform to the new laws, regulations and policies put in place by various government agencies. The goals of these reforms are reducing healthcare costs, enhancing accessibility and improving the quality of care (Benton, 2012). ...

Health care disparities are the differences that exists in health and health care among people. Heath disparities denote a higher burden of disease, disability, injury, or mortality exposed to a specific population group comparative to another (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). On a broad perspective, health care disparities are the existing differences among groups regarding the coverage of health insurance, accessibility and affordability of care, and the quality of care. In the contemporary world, the differences in health and health care disparities are difficult to explain by variations in patient preferences, health care needs, and treatment recommendations. These differences can ...