PLEASE ANSWER QUESTIONS 1 & 2
1. Identify and debate a specific social factor associated with the situation of the \”underinsured patients\”?
2. How can nurse practitioners (NPs) address this dilemma?
Scope of Practice and Patients Healthcare Accessibility
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Scope of Practice and Patient’s Healthcare Accessibility
Health insurance is very important in promoting access to healthcare among people and communities. However, several factors have been attributed to the low enrolment and retention rates (Tolbert et al., 2020). Economic stability is one of the major social factors contributing to the lack of health insurance coverage among people. Economic stability includes low income, unemployment, and other economical disadvantages. For example, Families with low income or no income are most likely to be uninsured because they are unable to pay the premiums. Most uninsured people tend to mention the cost of insurance as the primary reason they lack coverage (Orgera & Artiga, 2018). For example, about 73.7% of the uninsured people in 2019 said they were uninsured due to the high cost of coverage. People without insurance coverage have reduced access to healthcare than those who are insured (Tolbert et al., 2020). For that reason, it is important to address issues contributing to low insurance coverage among people.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) have an important role in promoting equality by ensuring that the insurance premiums are affordable even among low-income individuals. Nurse practitioners are patient advocates, hence, they can address the issue through proper policy (Saunders et al., 2017). NPs can lobby for favorable policies from politicians to propose bills that can reduce the insurance premiums. NPs can also vie for political positions to perform legislative work to improve health insurance coverage among people. It is only through advocacy or policy development that affordable health insurance coverage can be achieved (Saunders et al., 2017). The Affordable Care Act is a good example of how policy-making can improve the affordability of insurance coverage.
References
Orgera, K., & Artiga, S. (2018). Disparities in health and health care: Five key questions and answers. Henry J Kais Fam Found. https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/master/borndig/101740322/Issue-Brief-Disparities-in-Health-and-Health-Care-Five-Key-Questions-and-Answers.pdf
Saunders, M., Barr, B., McHale, P., & Hamelmann, C. (2017). Key policies for addressing the social determinants of health and health inequities. World Health Organization.
Tolbert, J., Orgera, K., & Damico. (2020). Key Facts About the Uninsured Population. Https://Www.Kff.Org/Uninsured/Issue-Brief/Key-Facts-About-The-Uninsured-Population/