The Hispanic community in the US and the relationship of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) to their health and money in Medicine
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Institution
Introduction
Many United States (U.S.) citizens complain of dissatisfaction with the current health care system. The cost of health care in U.S. averages 175 percent and most of the population lack health care insurance while other developed countries offer quality healthcare services. An action by the government to take care of the rising costs of healthcare; improve the quality of healthcare services and effectiveness, and cover more of its people with insurance would help reduce the number of complaints from citizens (Menzel, 2012). The Hispanic community forms one of the minority populations in the U.S., but the government has failed to recognize them as a growing population, and they experience many health care problems. Currently, there are approximately 45 million Hispanics in U.S. (Livingston, Minushkin, & Cohn, 2008). The government should take into account the community’s growing diversity and avail quality health care at their exposure. The following paper discusses the relationship between the Affordable Care Act and the Hispanic community living in U.S.
Discussion
The economic and social-cultural status of the population influences health status and health care services. The United States lowers the status of Hispanics in the country than the status of non-Hispanic whites. In addition, they face many barriers when it comes to receiving high-quality health care services. Challenges faced by Hispanics in U.S. result from low socioeconomic status and the minority nature of the community. In order to cater for the health care barriers faced by the Hispanics and other persons in U.S. President Obama signed a new Affordable Care Act (also known as the Obama Act) that plays an essential role in reforming the U.S. health care sector. The Act gives more Americans access to affordable health insurance, quality health care services, and reduces the money spent in the U.S. health care sector (Davidson, 2013).
The Obama Act favors all U.S. citizens without any discrimination of ethnicity, race, or social-culture. In February 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that eight out of every ten uninsured Hispanics qualify for U.S. Medicaid. Those who benefited from the new health care laws could sign up for health insurance premiums and enroll their siblings at low tax credits. The Obama Act allows approximately 42 million un-insured Latinos living in U.S. access quality health care services. In addition, most of the Hispanics have enrolled to the Health Insurance Marketplace that was closed in March 2014 (Garcia, February 2014). According to Escarce & Kapur (2012), the Hispanic population suffered many effects because of the reduced access to health care. The new Obama Act offers them an opportunity to enjoy a healthy lifestyle in U.S. In addition, the introduction of the Act has saved the community much money spent on medicine in the past. The health insurance premiums charged under the new care are very low compared to the amount of the bill paid directly to health care institutions in the past.
Conclusion
Presence of the Affordable Care Act in U.S. has improved the livelihood of many citizens including minority groups like the Hispanics. The relationship between the Obama Act and the Hispanics in U.S. continues to grow as more people enroll in Health Insurance Marketplace. The move by the President to introduce a health care system affordable to all acts as one of the best approaches that present a growing nation. The health care act demonstrated justice and fairness for all people representing one nation.
References
Davidson, S. M. (2013). A new era in U.S. health care: Critical next steps under the Affordable
Care Act.
Escarce, J. J., & Kapur, K. (2012). Access to and Quality of Health Care. In: National Research
Council (US) Panel on Hispanics in the United States; Tienda M, Mitchell F, editors. Hispanics and the Future of America. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 10. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19910/
Garcia, C. (2014, February 12). Here’s How Uninsured Latino Immigrants Can Still Receive
Health Insurance Under Obamacare. Latin Post RSS. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from
http://www.latinpost.com/articles/7442/20140217/heres-uninsured-latino-immigrants-still-receive-health-insurance-under-obamacare.htm
Livingston, G., Minushkin, S. & Cohn, D. (2008). Hispanics and Health Care in the United
States: Access, Information and Knowledge. Robert Wood Johnston Foundation
Menzel, T. P. (2012). Justice and Fairness: A critical element in U.S. health system reform.
Journal of Law medicine and Ethic, 1. 1: 589-597
