Social Policy (Essay Sample)

SOCIAL POLICY
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Introduction
The focus of this paper is analysis of an existing policy-the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so that we can evaluate its merits and demerits. The paper also discusses how strengths principles can be applied to help individuals consider better alternatives and perhaps more effective policy approaches. Strengths Perspective Principle 1 and 2 asserts that: first, social policies need to be developed based majorly on analysis of client objectives and strengths rather than problems and deficits. Secondly, the definition of need should incorporate client’s perspectives. The analysis done from two standpoints; the strength’s view and the constructionist’s approach which view reality or meaning as socially constructed through the coordination of people involved in their encounter with the provided services, which, of course can be quite dynamic.
Policy Goals
In March 2010, the President signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law to increase access to care, make health insurance more affordable, strengthen Medicare and ensure that Americans have more rights and protection. The Affordable Care Act was enacted so that to raise the population of American citizens to be covered by health insurance while reducing the cost of health care. The Policy has two key provisions: first, individual mandate that expects most American citizens to have coverage of “minimum essential” health insurance (Persily et. all, 2013). Second is Medicaid expansion which provides federal funding to States to support pregnant women, children, the disabled, needy families, the blind and the elders to obtain medical care. The main goal of the Policy was to minimize overall healthcare costs by enhancing health status among people and communities equitably (Persily et. all, 2013).
The goals for Affordable Care Act were concerned with the need to provide affordable health care to all citizens regardless of the financial strength or weakness of people. It did not take into keen consideration the whole process of implementation of the policy which involved adequate service care providers and adequate facilities. Expansion of coverage was not an expansion of actual care and that when Congress enacted the national health law; it unleashed potential problems of newly insured patients and offered a delivery system that was already strained and fragile. Incorporating Clients’ Perspective, the goal of the policy which was provision of affordable health care to all was well-intended. However, the policy makers did not in a way consider the perspective of the service users especially with regards to cost-effective measures (Chapin, 2011).
Benefits or Service Provided.
The Affordable Care Act, which is also known as Obama care, offers various benefits to all citizens. For instance, such benefits include: first, New Insurance Marketplaces enable customers to compare Health Plans which comprise all new benefits, protections, and rights. Secondly, no annual or life limits on health care, since major medical insurance is guaranteed. Thirdly, the insurance companies cannot eliminate an individual when sick, and lastly provide cost assistance to individuals. Families and small businesses would benefit through the New Insurance Marketplaces system, and nobody would be charged more depending on health status or gender (Chiplin and Bethany 2013). Analyzing these benefits and services from strengths perspective raises the concern of whether the service or benefits take into consideration of the strengths and resources of the community especially in ensuring the development of the policy. For instance, the Obama care policy has not ensured proper provision of service providers. The health providers may wish to assist people in need, though the sheer logistics of developed care delivery, the growing shortage of personnel and a limited resource will certainly undercut the good intention of the policy makers who crafted the national health care (Chapin, 2011).
In evaluating these benefits and services, it is also of importance to mention that ACA expects millions of American citizens to register for health insurance, yet the care delivery system are unprepared to cater for needs of the influx of Americans seeking care. Through construct view, the Affordable Care Act is countering challenges especially the concerns about the varying quality of care provided. This, thus, evokes a response to the expanding demand of services; establishment of sensible cost-containment strategies and provision of comprehensive and good quality care (Chapin, 2011).
Eligibility Rules
According to Chapin (2011), eligibility rules show people who qualify to receive the benefits or services and those who do not. ACA has developed coverage program for the poorest American citizens by establishing a privilege for States to offer Medicaid eligibility for individuals who are below sixty-five (65) years of age with incomes up to 133% of (FPL) the federal poverty level. States can also offer Medicaid coverage for poor adults without children and be given coverage through Medicaid in each state without the requirement for a waiver. The new proposed eligibility is a structure of four major eligibility groups: children, pregnant women, parents and caretakers and new adult group.
Service delivery systems
The delivery services or benefits systems also influence a great deal policy effectiveness; thus, any comprehensive policy evaluation includes an assessment of the delivery system. The services can be offered by public or private agencies. Furthermore, publicly funded services can be offered by private institutions administered by public agencies. The publicly funded ACA program pays for long-term health care services that are often provided by private church-affiliated nursing facilities. Similarly, ACA-funded acute healthcare is frequently offered by private hospitals which are regulated by public agencies (Chiplin and Bethany 2013).
The delivery systems can be viewed from a strengths perspective. The service delivery system can be considered whether it is designed to build on assets that already exist in the community. In this case, ACA services delivery system is done on the already existing institutions such as both private and public institutions, medical services and community centers. And again ACA service delivery systems are staffed by social workers who reflect the ethnic diversity found within the target population and the services to be accessible to people of all ethnic background (Chapin, 2011).
Finance
Equally important factor in policy analysis is a method by which it is financed. The source of funding of a policy determines its stability and adequacy (most referred). When funding is not guaranteed from year to the next, the consequence can mess up with the activities of clients and staffs. Public funding normally provides more stable and sufficient finance than other sources. This policy is funded publicly through general revenue appropriations which define how tax dollars are supposed to be spent (Persily et. all, 2013). The government as the service provider gets its reimbursement through federal taxation.
The government provides the States with finance to expand the policy qualificati...