Welcome to our latest blog post on the impact of public policies on your health care options. As we navigate through uncertain times, it has become increasingly important to understand how government decisions can affect our access to healthcare services. From policy changes that limit coverage for pre-existing conditions to reforms that incentivize preventative care, this blog aims at shedding light on the complex relationship between public policies and healthcare outcomes. So, buckle up and get ready for a deep dive into the world of health policy!
The Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a landmark public policy that was enacted in 2010 to improve access to health care for all Americans. The ACA consists of three key parts: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Health Insurance Marketplaces, and Medicaid expansion.
Since its enactment, the ACA has had a major impact on American health care. Some of the most significant changes include:
-The ban on annual and lifetime limits on coverage has made insurance more affordable for families.
-The requirement that all Americans have health insurance or face a tax penalty has helped reduce the number of people without coverage by 20 million.
-The expansion of Medicaid eligibility has increased access to health care for millions of low-income Americans who would not have been able to afford it on their own.
The Repeal and Replace Act
The Repeal and Replace Act would create a massive shift in the way Americans receive healthcare.
Under the bill, states would be able to opt out of many of Obamacare’s regulations, including those that require insurance companies to cover certain health care services and prevent insurers from charging more for people with pre-existing conditions. In return, the federal government would provide more money to state governments so that they could provide enhanced healthcare coverage to their residents.
The Republican Party has made repealing and replacing Obamacare one of its main priorities for the 115th Congress. If enacted, the Repeal and Replace Act would drastically change the way millions of Americans receive health care.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law on December 22, 2017. This bill includes significant changes to the tax system that could impact your health care options.
Some of the most significant changes include:
1. The threshold at which you are subject to income tax rises from $75,000 to $100,000 for individuals and couples filing jointly. This change is expected to result in an increase in revenue by $137 billion over the next ten years.
2. The deduction for medical expenses increases from 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) to 10%. This change is expected to benefit approximately 50 million people who currently claim this deduction.
3. The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is eliminated as of 2018, but will be reinstated in 2022 for individuals who are younger than 37 years old when the credit begins to phase out. The AOTC provides a credit of up to $2,500 per individual or family member ($4,000 if married filing jointly). This change is expected to reduce federal revenue by $51 billion over the next ten years.
4. The estate tax exemption amount decreases from $5 million to $3 million for individuals and couples filing jointly and from $10 million to $5 million for singles, retirees, and heads of households. This change is expected to reduce federal revenue by $167 billion over the next ten years.
The Opioid Crisis
Public policies can have a significant impact on how you access and pay for health care. This is especially true when it comes to opioid abuse, which has become a major public health crisis in the U.S. In this article, we’ll explore some of the public policies that have played a role in the opioid crisis, and discuss how you can best take advantage of available options to protect your health.
In the early 2000s, doctors began prescribing opioids for chronic pain patients at an unprecedented rate. However, there was little evidence to support this practice. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that opioid overdoses were on the rise and attributed this increase largely to Prescription Drug Abuse (PDA) – specifically, prescription drug misuse by people who had not received prescribed medications from a doctor.
To address this issue, policymakers developed several public policies aimed at preventing PDA and reducing opioid misuse:
1. Medicaid Expansion: In May 2015, then-President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. One of its key provisions was Medicaid expansion – which allowed states to expand their Medicaid programs to include more low-income adults. As a result of this policy change, an estimated 28 million Americans gained coverage through Medicaid or marketplace subsidies between 2014 and 2016.[1] The availability of affordable coverage led many people with substance use disorder (SUD) to seek treatment instead of taking their medication illegally or buying street drugs
The Trump Administration’s Policies on Health Care
As the Trump Administration takes over, health care policies are under scrutiny. Here’s what you need to know about the changes proposed so far.
The Trump administration has proposed significant changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), formerly known as Obamacare. The goal is to lower costs and improve quality by splitting the insurance market into two tiers:
A “marketplace” offering tax-credit subsidies for people who buy insurance on their own A “high-risk pool” for people with pre-existing conditions who can’t find affordable coverage elsewhere
These proposals have sparked concern among many healthcare advocates, because they could lead to a decrease in access to affordable coverage and higher premiums for everyone else. Here’s a closer look at these changes:
Marketplace Scenario
Under the marketplace scenario, people would continue to purchase insurance through an existing marketplaces like HealthCare.gov. These markets are regulated by state governments, which means each one could have different rules and regulations. This could make it difficult for people who don’t live in states that run their own marketplace to buy insurance there. It’s also possible that insurers could withdraw from these markets if they don’t receive enough healthy customers, leaving only those with serious health issues enrolled.
High-Risk Pool Scenario
In the high-risk pool scenario, insurers would be allowed to sell policy plans only in this pool. People with pre-existing conditions would be able to join, but they would face much
Conclusion
As a population, we are constantly bombarded with messages about the importance of health and wellness. It is no wonder that many people believe that taking care of their own health is a personal responsibility. However, this attitude may not always be in our best interest when it comes to our access to quality health care. For example, public policies can impact how much insurance companies will pay for cancer treatments or whether Medicaid will cover certain medical procedures. If you are struggling to afford expensive health care and would like to explore your options, speaking with an insurance agent or consulting a healthcare law attorney might be a good first step.
