Introduction
Geographic and demographic information about a selected group of vulnerable populations is an important aspect of developing strategies for the issue’s solution. Features of the demographic context promote developing accurate implementations for specific categories of the population. Geographic data contributes to the territorial analysis of the selected issue, which will lead to a more effective resolution strategy. It is formulated by the fact that territorial visualization helps to identify locations with the most problematic indicators. In turn, it will facilitate the leadership to develop a method to settle the problem depending on the specific conditions.
Demographic information about the current vulnerable group of the population, namely the uninsured people, includes many indicators. It involves the number of the selected area population and the number of insured and uninsured individuals. Furthermore, for complete visualization of the issue, it is necessary to analyze the correlation of racial, ethnic, and gender indicators. This approach will help to identify patterns in demographic aspects, which also contributes to a more efficient solution to the problem due to more precise data.
The selected location is Kings County (Brooklyn), which is the most populated borough in New York City. There were 2,73 million residents as of 2020 year (US Census Bureau). 7.2 % of the population under the age of 65 years do not have health insurance (US Census Bureau). Thus, a significant number of the population do not have adequate access to the essential part of services, namely health care. It is also worth noting that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the indicators. 17,8 % of the population of Kings County, New York, are in poverty (US Census Bureau). As mentioned above, financial hardship is the most common reason for not having health insurance. The impact of the pandemic can be explained by the fact that many people have lost their jobs due to quarantine, which has led to the inability to obtain adequate insurance.
Further, one needs to consider the number of the population without insurance in the context of gender. The percentage of uninsured men and women is almost equal, with 53 % of men and 47 % of women without health insurance coverage (US Census Bureau). As for regions, one may notice that the southern region of Kings County has the greatest percentage of the uninsured population at 52 % (US Census Bureau). The other regions include the Northeast with 13 %, Midwest with 19 %, and West area with 16 % of uninsured people (US Census Bureau). Ethnic indicators are formulated by the number of populace, namely European Americans having the greatest indicator of uninsured with 63 %, as it is the biggest part of the population in the county (US Census Bureau). Thereby, based on this data, one has the opportunity to accurately develop a methodology for solving the problem.
Such data contribute to more effective addressing of the issue since one can develop directions that are necessary to be reinforced. Specific areas in which the most uninsured population are identified, thereby, all implementations must be applied on this territory in the first place. Moreover, it can serve as an indicator of the implemented solutions’ potency, if the number starts to decrease, it is necessary to apply similar strategies in other areas. Further, one may notice which ethnic group performs the worst and act similarly.
Individual Risk Factors
In the context of any social issue or problem affecting the population, for the most effective solution, it is necessary to identify individual risk factors. It includes those risks that an individual is exposed to concerning a specific problem. Besides, it also involves individual risky consequences that may occur if the issue is not resolved. The group of health-related problems has the highest number of risks. Moreover, they are urgent ones since they can carry severe consequences, both short-term and long-term. It is also worth noting that individual risks are the foundation that causes multiple risks, thus, at the federal level.
Nowadays, several population groups are considered vulnerable due to threats to their normal existence. It includes minorities, racial /ethnic backgrounds, low socioeconomic status (SES), and no health insurance coverage. Although the reasons for their inability to comfortably perform are different, they have one common principle. Thus, despite the primary source of the threat, this population does not have access to social services that promote a secure lifestyle. Moreover, some of the vulnerable population features are interconnected, for instance, low socioeconomic status (SES) leads to the population having no health insurance coverage.
One of the main risk factors for insured people is the price of medical services outside the insurance package. Everyday medical services, such as going to the doctor or dentist, can be prohibitively expensive if one does not have insurance. It is because, according to the insurance plan, such expenses are partially covered by insurance. People earning an average or below average salary may find themselves in a situation where they cannot afford the basic care they need. In turn, it can lead to complications of a person’s condition, and the price of treatment will only be higher in the future. In this situation people will either become bankrupt due to such high prices of healthcare services or they will have to seek help in unsafe facilities.
Additionally, although most states do not require health insurance by law, in some states, one may pay a fine for not having insurance. Together with the necessity for high fees for care services, it can lead to financial collapse, stress, disease development, and severe consequences. Further, one may find oneself in a situation where one cannot afford not only medical services but also the necessary medicines. It includes special medicines to reduce pain, high blood pressure, mental illness, or oxygen tanks to manage an asthma attack. People with terminal or chronic diseases cannot pay for medicine or healthcare in such cases and, more importantly, might be subject to fines.
A population with inadequate health insurance coverage formulates disparities in the medical field. It is contradictory to the foundations of equality and constitutes a barrier to services promoting conditions of normal existence. The insurance absence may lead to an individual forgoing basic health care services such as a visit to a dentist, a therapist, or the purchase of medications. Uninsured people are less likely to receive adequate treatment for chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, it can become a barrier for children to receive appropriate care for critical conditions such as asthma and immunization services. It formulates the most urgent individual risk factors of the chosen group of vulnerable populations: uninsured people.
Multiple Risk Factors
Multiple risk factors are also an important aspect to consider in this issue. It includes the group of risks that arise on an international scale, thus, at the federal level. It shows the consequences of the problem affecting the state in an interethnic aspect. Moreover, it visualizes the impact of the problem on indicators of national importance, such as morbidity and mortality rates. All this affects the country’s economy, as the population formulates a working resource for the development of industry, business, and other sectors. Thus, multiple high risks can hurt the country’s important indicators at the federal level.
The uninsured population involves the group of individuals who, for various reasons, do not have unimpeded access to medical services. The fundamental reason for this is considered to be the low financial capabilities since the procedure associated with obtaining insurance requires financial resources. In some cases, the reason may be formulated by bureaucratic features in terms of racial and ethnic aspects, namely difficulties in documentation procedures. All this leads to the fact that the lack of health insurance poses one of the main barriers to health care services. In turn, it negatively affects the overall health rating at the federal level. Besides, the health insurance problem leads to an increase in the death rate among the population.
In the current realities, namely the COVID-19 pandemic, the multiple risk factors become especially important. The pandemic had an impact not only on the economy but also on people’s lives. A person with insurance can be sure of timely, high-quality, and effective treatment of the disease. COVID-19 can be accompanied by symptoms and conditions that require hospitalization and major interventions. It includes an intensive care unit, CT scans, MRI scans, oxygen tanks, and pumps that deliver oxygen to the human body. Besides, a person may need a ventilator to maintain normal vital signs. Moreover, the financial aspect includes the purchase of many devices and medicines that affect the spread of the disease. Namely, respirators, hygiene devices, masks, vitamins, and preventive medicines.
The absence of all aforementioned services may lead to the person’s death. However, it can also be costly as it involves modern equipment and a high quantity of staff. An uninsured individual may face a barrier to providing needed emergency interventions. In the context of multiple risk factors, along with the above, large numbers of diseases can lead to high mortality rates. In turn, it can provoke disruptions in the relationship between industry and the necessary labor force and, ultimately, to economic problems. It is also worth remembering that preventive measures include quarantine and the closure of many institutions across the country, which, along with high mortality, can lead to serious consequences.
All of this formulate the main threat of multiple risk factors, given the current state of the medical field. The main principle of multiple risks is that they interact, and together they pose a more serious threat than individually. In the case of the uninsured population, one might notice that even without taking into account the pandemic, it can have a negative impact. The high death rate, the discontent of the population, the lack of a labor force, and the development of diseases together constitute the main threat. These factors formulate a further deterioration in health indicators and economic problems.
Current Strategies
Current strategies to address the issue of uninsured individuals include both long-term and short-term strategies. Long-term solutions include those that have been adopted for a long time and are still valid, such as Medicaid and Medicare. Short-term plans include recent reforms and acts and modern solutions and attempts to level the problem. One of the significant reforms was adopted in 2010 by President Barack Obama, which was aimed at an affordable insurance process. In addition, the state can pay for health insurance in case of a low-income family or serious financial problems. However, there are quite strict eligibility criteria, and low income is not always a reason for government insurance coverage.
Medicare is a national health insurance assistance program for citizens 65 and over. However, some individuals under the age of 65, such as those with disabilities, or citizens suffering from serious illnesses, may also become participants in the program. Medicare helps pay for medical services, however, it does not cover all necessary care and treatment costs. The resources of the program are financed by taxes on the wages of both employees and employers and special monthly contributions. In addition, hospitals also receive financial resources from corporate income and payroll taxes. The program is often used to receive inpatient treatment or to be able to call a doctor at home. In addition, it helps to receive preventive medical services and perform therapeutic procedures.
Medicaid aims to help people in need get medical services. Under this program, assistance is provided to those citizens who are officially below the poverty line. Assistance is provided to both US citizens and foreigners living in the country. Poverty is not always the reason for receiving assistance, and the program is more often used for children and families with low incomes. Most spending goes to those who stay in nursing homes for a long time and pay for medical services for the disabled. Medicaid, unlike Medicare, is a charitable program, so it is not as actively supported.
In 2010, President Barack Obama adopted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was the most ambitious Medinan reform in recent times. The main feature of the reform was the introduction of the obligation of a US citizen to purchase health insurance, which included subsidies for the poor. In addition, the goal of the reform was to improve the conditions of medical insurance for already existing citizens. Thus, the employer was prohibited from refusing to provide insurance or increasing the payment if the employee was confirmed to have a serious illness before starting work. Also, as part of the reform, exchanges of insurers appear for those citizens who could not get insurance from employers. In these cases, the insurance premium should not exceed 3-9.5% of the client’s income. Finally, citizens have the opportunity to purchase insurance in special centers without the assistance of employers.
Further, administrative liability arises for those who refuse to purchase or provide health insurance. Also, the reform was aimed at improving the supply of elderly citizens with the necessary medicines. All employers with more than 50 employees are required to provide health insurance to their employees. Special exchange programs have been introduced, according to which people who do not have other types of insurance should receive medical care. Insurance companies, when overstating insurance premiums, must send an official justification to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Strategy Effectiveness
For any kind of social issue, it is important to implement the necessary strategies for solving the problem in a timely and effective manner. A quick response is important because delay can provoke the development of processes that make it much more difficult to solve the problem in the future. It applies to the current issue of uninsured people, if the necessary measures are not taken in time, the number of people in need of help may become limiting. Additionally, people who are unable to care for themselves for specific reasons will have to seek help in unprofessional and unsafe facilities, which can lead to a higher mortality rate. Based on this, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing listed strategies undertaken to address the issue.
As part of Medicare, the state takes an expanded role in helping people in the aspect of health insurance. The main target audience of the program is people of retirement age who need treatment or medication. The effectiveness of this program can be assessed by increasing the number of people of retirement age who have received insurance or the necessary care. However, the potency of Medicare cannot be objectively assessed today because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because the health system has experienced an excessive burden for which institutions and staff were not prepared. Moreover, the financial aspect was also affected due to quarantine, layoffs, and preventive measures.
Medicaid has similar goals, but the program targets people of all ages who have an income below the poverty line. The program helps not only US citizens but also foreigners living in the country. While the program has helped people get the assistance they need, its resources are limited. Moreover, there is a strict criterion for becoming a member of the program. That is, poverty is not the reason for admission to the program often, disabled people, pregnant women, as well as people in need of special care receive assistance. Moreover, similarly to Medicare, the effectiveness of Medicaid cannot be objectively seen today due to the pandemic. Due to a large number of applications, programs are overwhelmed, and the state of the economy does not allow for more funding.
The most significant attempt to improve the healthcare system was the 2010 reform, which aimed to make it easier to get health insurance. Its effectiveness can be assessed in the context of increasing the number of people receiving insurance. This happened because employees at the legislative level have become obliged to provide insurance. In addition, the citizens themselves also became obligated to purchase insurance, and assistance was allocated to the poor.
Thus, one can consider the reform effective because the mechanism for obtaining insurance has become more efficient and simple. In this case, the simplicity and efficiency of obtaining insurance only serve as a way of boosting healthcare services utilization. However, the law was accompanied by criticism and difficulties from the opponents of this reform. This is formulated because the law requires powerful financial resources and investments, and many believed that the country’s economy could not provide this. However, the population positively received this as health care remains one of the most exciting issues.
Integrative Approaches
People with health insurance are more likely to receive timely and effective care for a variety of diseases. In addition, an insured individual has unhindered access to the rapid receipt of necessary medicines. All of the above is inaccessible (or difficult to access) for the selected category of the vulnerable population, namely the uninsured. Moreover, uninsured individuals may have difficulty accessing care for mentally negative symptoms. This may include both the services of a therapist and the purchase of appropriate medications.
An integrative approach is formulated by using several options to achieve wellness most efficiently. In other words, he needs to analyze existing methods, select the most positive aspects and combine them into a universal approach. This option contributes to the modern principle of developing new methods, as well as the most profitable option. In this rearguard, it is necessary to find out what one can take from the existing options for solving the problem of uninsured people. This can also include improving the healthcare system as a whole, and in this case, Medicaid, Medicare, and the 2010 reform will be analyzed.
First of all, it is necessary to isolate those elements that need to be taken from existing methods. As already indicated, Medicaid is based on assistance in providing medical services and insurance to people in need. However, the resources of the program are partly replenished through charity, which provokes insufficient funding. Thus, it is necessary to take the main principle of the program, namely helping those in need, and connect it with the next aspect.
The next aspect is formulated by the Medicare program, a national assistance program to provide medical services to those in need. However, the program is limited by the fact that persons over 65 years of age or disabled and seriously ill people can become its participants. However, the main feature of the program is its financing, which is formulated by taxes on wages collected from employees and on wages. In addition, it is also funded by monthly Social Security contributions. As one can see, the program is more efficient in financing, which makes it more efficient in terms of covering financial costs.
The proposed integrative approach is formed based on the elements of these two programs and the 2010 reform. Namely, one needs to combine the principle of Medicaid assistance, as well as the principle of financing Medicaid. In other words, one will combine the best features of these programs resulting in an effective funding assistance program for all those in need. However, the problem of limited financial resources still exists, for which it is necessary to apply the foundations of the reform. That is, one must calculate the necessary amount of finance to cover the needs of the population and then calculate the necessary funding. In addition, one could implement a system of rewards and motivation for the most active volunteers and philanthropists.
What is also worth mentioning is that motivation could lie in social bonuses, such as business benefits or increased career advancement for active benefactors. Thus, the most effective principles of the existing programs would be involved, as well as the problem of financing would be solved. It is on this basis that the proposed integrative approach is built to solve the chosen problem, namely the uninsured population.
Work Cited
US Census Bureau. 2022. Web.