Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Term Paper Example

 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act With the changes taking place in the United States health sector, quite a number of laws and provisions were put in place as a result. One of the policies is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that aimed at ensuring that all citizens in the United States are able to access to proper health care. However, this health act has led to a myriad of debates in the country. Some analysts and researchers in the health sector proposed the possibility of changes taking place in health care especially to the employees are too high. One of the major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is that employees must have access to healthcare through provision of insurance services. On the side of the employees, the main implication is whether they are legally responsible to be allowed access to insurance services or not. This is much more dependent on how large the companies they run are, and whether they at present offer health care services to its employees. The Bureau of National Affairs (Arlington, Va.) (2000) stipulates that, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) indicates that the employers must ensure that if employees have to impose the provision of the law of insurance on healthcare on its employees, the firm must be inclusive of more than fifty workforce. This is an implication that for these corporations to be included in the health scheme, the cover provided for its employees is a mere option that they have to undertake. On the other hand, the law allows for insurance covers for corporations of over 50 employees, and despite the high costs for coverage and the costs that the firm is likely to undergo so as to expand, the insurance policy is no option, but a must to these employees. A great disparity is vivid in the case employees of over fifty and of less than fifty corporations. In as much Aponte &Cronin (2012) indicate that, the employers of small organizations will have less burden in terms of constant contribution to cater for the insurance rates, the employees of the small organizations tend to suffer the more, since it is only by chance that they may access cover. In fact, the only recommendation by the law is that the government is only willing to provide services to these employees through credits on the taxes that are seemingly beneficial to them. Recommendation Though the government has included these employees of the small organizations in their provisions and statues, it is only fair that the insurance cover policy is made compulsory just like in the case of large corporations. According to the Patient protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Jonas, et al. (2011) indicate that the government has only dedicated 35% of the employer’s contribution- those that are valid- to the insurance cover. This amount of money may seem too little or inconspicuous, but the fact remains that, the employees are covered and have a secure health care system at their disposal, unlike the employees of small organizations. In this context, therefore, the employees of these small organizations, in my opinion are vulnerable and may have an uncertain future in terms of their health care lifestyle. The worst part is that the government does not consider the ability of the employees of small organizations to pay the contributions required to get an insurance coverage. It is extremely out of order to make assumptions that persons working within corporations of fewer individuals mean that they are underprivileged and cannot cope with the demands of the government. In light to this argument, one is left to ask whether the government is concerned with protecting and offering affordable health care to its citizens or making as much profits as possible in enrolling more and more people into the system. In my perspective, I believe that the government must be on the frontline to ensure that all its citizens are catered to, in terms of health care. The title of the act is clear evidence of what the government should be dedicated to performing in the country. In this case, the government would be in a better position to alleviate the issue if they include all persons including the ones with low incomes in the insurance programs in a simplified manner. These families would be covered like the ones of supposedly higher incomes. With government subsidies to all persons, then the persons of low incomes will have a chance to compare the schemes that will suit them; thus, making it possible for the individuals to access healthcare. The insurance programs should not be an alternative, but be made compulsory for all citizens of the USA. It is the responsibility of the government to highlight the plight of these employees of organizations of less than 50 employees as they are also liable to access medical care like any other individual in the country. The employers on the other hand, must be on the frontline to champion for the rights of their employees, so as access proper healthcare. Ultimately, the health insurance covers will be applied to all, creating a health secure nation, not on a short term basis, but a long term basis. This will not only be of benefit to the employees or common citizens, but also to the entire government. Making the insurance covers compulsory for all, allows the government plan the future of its citizens in an easier way. Conclusively, the government must take note that, the amount of money provided to the small firms to initiate health coverage systems to their employees is not good enough for them. If the government is able to change the clause of no financial rations on the employees of small firms, to incorporation of the small employers, then the case would be much easier as all persons contribute to their safeguarding their healthcare. The insurance covers should, therefore, be no option but compulsory to all employees, despite the size of the firm. Warmest Regards, (Insert name) References Aponte, P. &Cronin, O. (2012). Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Select Elements and Entities. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Incorporated. Bureau of National Affairs (Arlington, Va.). (2000). Daily labor report, Issues 171-190. New York: Bureau of National Affairs. Jonas, et al. (2011). Jonas & Kovner's health care delivery in the United States. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Read More