Obamacare in Minorities - Essay Example

For instance, this law establishes a new office of Minority health that deals with issues of health promotion, disease prevention, and risk reduction, use of healthcare services, healthier lifestyle choices, and obstacles to health care. Among the minority groups targeted under this law include: African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans, and pacific islanders.

The concern for the minority groups follows a well-researched study undertaken by the federal state. According to this study, about 18.8% of African Americans below the age of 65 did not have health insurance. The majority of these minorities were found to be live and also work under poor socioeconomic conditions, a factor contributing significantly to their elevated risk for mortality. According to these findings, blacks had a higher mortality rate when compared to whites for treatable diseases like coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Another report released by the center for disease control in 2011 showed great disparities in the national homicide rate that was particularly based on race, age, and ethnicity. From these reports, it was evident that Black males were the most affected. Another important statistic released by CDC relates to HIV infection in America. This report clearly shows the Blacks as bearing the greatest burden when compared to other races and ethnic groupings.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) seeks to deal with these health inequalities among many others in several ways.

Before solving the many healthcare problems facing minorities, a thorough examination of the root cause is important. To that end, Congress financed the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities with 831 million dollars to help carry out scientific research. The findings are expected to deliver vital information that will not only see the minority health improved but also eliminate the present health disparities.

It is true that the biggest percentage of the minority groups live below the poverty level and thus depends much on programs like Medicaid. Medicaid serves about 40 percent of Latino and African American children. Here, the healthcare act increases the coverage in 2014 to about 133% above the poverty level. This new criterion will see nearly half of the present uninsured group qualify for Medicaid.

The affordable care act offers 11 billion dollars to increase the number of patients provided with preventive and primary services in community health centers. This doubles the number of people served when compared to the previous period. In 2009, 28% of patients visiting the health centers for treatment were African American and 28 were either Hispanic or Latino.

Additionally, Obamacare seeks to increase employer-provided health insurance coverage for the many minorities working in low-paying jobs. This law provides that any employer with 50 or more employees will be fined for any of their employees who receive premium credit after purchasing his/her insurance; this should be as a result of the employer's refusal to provide the insurance.

The Affordable Care Act will greatly serve the interests of the minorities since many will now gain health coverage. According to recent research, the eight percent point Black-white differential about the uninsured rate would reduce by half following the provisions of this act. This study further anticipates the nineteen percentage point Hispanic-White differential to reduce slightly by a quarter or less.