5 discussion questions. Answers must be at least 40 words each. APA format with at least two scholarly resources. I have attached chapter 7 in case you need it.
5 discussion questions. Answers must be at least 40 words each. APA format with at least two scholarly resources. I have attached chapter 7 in case you need it.
Sara E. Wilensky and Joel B. Teitelbaum
When I took office, health care costs had risen rapidly for decades, and tens of millions of Americans were uninsured. Regardless of the political difficulties, I concluded comprehensive reform was necessary. The result of that effort, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), has made substantial progress in addressing these challenges. Americans can now count on access to health coverage throughout their lives, and the federal government has an array of tools to bring the rise of health care costs under control. However, the work toward a high-quality, affordable, accessible health care system is not over. (Obama, 2016, p. 526)
Discussion Question 1
Even though the primary legislative bills to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—the AHCA and BRCA—did not have sufficient support across U.S. Congress to become law, and some of their provisions may not have been allowed under reconciliation rules, it is worth considering the main features of the bills to understand the type of health reform changes many Republicans support (see TABLE 7-1). Overall, these bills reduced taxes, eliminated government mandates, lowered federal government spending, lowered premiums for some people while increasing them for others, phased out the Medicaid expansion under the ACA, and ended Medicaid as an entitlement program. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the effect of the bills would be to significantly increase the number of uninsured, significantly reduce the deficit, lower costs for young and healthy consumers, and increase costs for older and poorer consumers (Congressional Budget Office, June 26, 2017; Congressional Budget Office, July 23, 2017). Everyone agrees the ACA can be improved. Are there features of these bills that you think have merit? Should states have more flexibility under the ACA? How much of the cost burden should young and healthy individuals bear in order to make health insurance more affordable for elderly and sicker individuals?
Discussion Question 2
Are there alternatives to the individual mandate that accomplish the same goals without engendering so much political turmoil? Could policymakers have designed an incentive system that would be as effective as a mandate? What are the pros and cons of using a mandate versus an incentive? Can you think of incentives to encourage enrollment that have occurred in other parts of the healthcare system?
Discussion Question 3
There was a lengthy debate about whether to include a public option in health reform. A public option is some type of government-run health plan that would be available to compete with private plans. A public option could exist within the health exchange model or outside of it. Instead of a public option, Congress voted to require the Office of Personnel Management, which runs the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, to contract with at least two multistate plans in every state health insurance exchange.
What are the pros and cons of having a public option? Does the Office of Personnel Management compromise achieve all or some of the goals of having a public option? Why do you believe the Office of Personnel Management compromise was acceptable to legislators but the public option was not?
Discussion Question 4
Republican policymakers that are involved in bipartisan discussions to revise the ACA are focused on providing states with increased flexibility regarding benefit design, premium pricing, and other features. Although states are generally home to social welfare changes, it is difficult to provide universal health care on a state-by-state basis. If state health reform efforts lead the way, the country could have a patchwork of programs and policies that vary from state to state, with the potential to make health coverage even more complex and inefficient than it is currently. On the other hand, it is also important to recognize that a health reform strategy focusing on states has benefits as well. At its best, state-level reform can be accomplished more rapidly and with more innovation than at the federal level. State legislatures may have an easier time convincing a narrower band of constituents important to the state than Congress has in accommodating the varied needs of stakeholders nationwide.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of compromising regarding the state role in the ACA? Is it worth giving up some degree national uniformity and stronger consumer protections in exchange for political stability and allowing state to experiment with health reform design? How well do you think the public will be served in their access to affordable health insurance and access to health care if states have more control? How does your response differ if you are living in California or New York versus Texas or Florida?
Discussion Question 5
A group of friends were talking about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), illustrating the wide-ranging viewpoints about the law. Calvin, whose daughter Mia is struggling to make a living as an artist, is pleased that Mia has health insurance for the first time since graduating from college. Although Mia cannot stay on her parents’ insurance because she just turned 27, she can now afford a good health insurance plan that she found on her state’s health exchange. While Calvin has not noticed much of a change in his own health insurance coverage, which he obtains through his government employer, his friend Katherine is upset about health reform. She does not want the government forcing her to purchase health insurance (although she always chose to be insured in the past), and she recently found out that her old plan was cancelled because it did not meet the law’s requirements. Katherine found several new plan options to choose from, but none had her exact combination of benefits, providers, and price. In addition, Katherine’s uncle, Ethan, is 55 years old and self-employed. He purchases his health insurance on his state’s exchange and because he has preexisting conditions, he is grateful to be able to find a plan. Even so, Ethan’s premiums will increase by 15% this year and his deductible is $5,000, making health care difficult to afford even with insurance. Another friend, Jara, told Katherine she should be willing to pay a little more or change some aspects of her plan to help the millions of people who can now afford insurance for the first time as a result of the ACA. After witnessing her uncle’s experience, however, Katherine is skeptical that the government is going to be able to keep its promises.
What are the competing viewpoints about the ACA exemplified by these friends? Which of these friends’ views will be the most pressing concern going forward in the discussions about the ACA?
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