With the release of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the future of healthcare in Arizona may be changing. Arizonans across the state have benefited from the Medicaid expansion and a number of other programs the existing Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made more readily accessible. Changes to the current healthcare law could affect the gains, affordability, accessibility, and adequate care the ACA has now.
Terms of Interest:
- Medicaid in Arizona is known as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System or its acronym, AHCCCS.
- The Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program (CHIP) is known in Arizona as KidsCare.
Affordability
Before the ACA, the number one reason families went into bankruptcy was because of illness. Ensuring people can afford comprehensive health insurance, especially low-income individuals and families, is imperative. By families having health coverage and lower medical costs, they can build their savings and assets.
Accessibility
There are key components of the current plan that need to remain intact in order to ensure accessibility. Currently:
- Pre-existing conditions cannot cause an individual to be denied insurance, with or without gaps in their coverage
- Dependents are allowed to remain on their parent’s health plans until the age of 26
- There are no lifetime caps
- No one can be charged more because of health status or gender
- There are annual caps on out of pocket cost
All these protections are important in ensuring consumer protection.
Adequacy
The current law requires coverage for certain needs such as maternal care, mental health, preventative services, prescriptions, and many more. By requiring all plans to include these benefits, it guarantees that all health care plans are adequate.
Having access to low to no cost coverage for preventative services is important to all. Preventative care is the leading action to catch expensive diseases and illness before they get worse. Without preventative services the cost of treatment goes up the longer a person goes untreated. These services are important to everyone in the long run, both financially and physically.
The Cycle of Poverty Grows Without Proper Healthcare
Following the discussion of healthcare and making your voice heard is the only way to stand up for proper healthcare. The items that will improve on existing coverage include protecting essential health benefits, preserving consumer protections, strengthening private marketplace, protecting AHCCCS, and reauthorizing Kids Care.
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