What is it about?
This research presents a descriptive account of how Hispanic consumers experienced the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Using a series of in-depth interviews, the findings show that Hispanics are in an unfavorable situational context, better understood when the cultural context is considered and cultural resistance is recognized.
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Why is it important?
Under the Affordable Care Act and without the state option of Medicaid expansion, Hispanic consumers are not provided affordable health insurance and healthcare access. As a population with much health disparities and high rates of health uninsurance, lack healthcare access puts Hispanics in a double jeopardy situation. As a high needs population, lack of healthcare access means poor health management and an increased financial burden to the community.
Perspectives
The United Nations declared healthcare access as a human right in 1948 then reinforced the same message in 2012. Most OECD countries provide universal care but the USA does not. The USA has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and ranks poorly on performance measures such as access, equity, and quality. This situation of the fastest growing minority in Northern America being without healthcare is a defining moment for USA. The Trump administration healthcare policy designed to repeal and replace Obamacare also does no favors for the poor, sick, or the elderly. The Congressional Budget Office reports that under Trumpcare the federal deficit will be reduced by $337 Billion but there will be 52 million Americans uninsured. How does allowing people to suffer and die in this way make any financial sense?
Dr Sharon Schembri
SKEMA Business School
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Affordable Care Act, the Medicaid Coverage Gap, and Hispanic Consumers: A Phenomenology of Obamacare, Journal of Consumer Affairs, February 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/joca.12146.
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