Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

PolicyAlternativePaper
SamiraAli
FQ7753
ProfessorDr.Keys
SW4710
November27,2015

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

Abstract
AnewpolicyforHealthcareintheUnitedStateisessential.ManyAmericansdo
nothavecoverageandarenotgettingpropercare.TheYHSisanewpolicythatisgoing
toallowfornewhealthcarebenefitsandthebestcareforalltheUS.Inmanycountries
throughouttheworldhealthcarecoverageisfree.UnfortunatelynothereintheUS.
ChangesneedtobemadeandthatiswherethenewYHSwillcomeintoaffectand
providethechangesthatneedtobemade.
CurrentPolicy
TheAffordableCareActwassignedbyPresidentObamain2010.Thisactisto
helpMedicareandMedicaidrecipientshavebetterhealthcarebenefits.Itreducesprivate
paymentstoprovidersaswellasprivateinsuranceplans.Medicareseemstobesound
andstrongerthaneverbefore.Fraud,wasteandabuseofitsservicesiscomingtoanend.
TheObamaadministrationhasrecoveredover$4billioninMedicarefraud.Thetools
theyareusingaregoingtoallowmorecrackdownsaccordingtotheNationalCommittee
topreservesocialsecurityandMedicare.
PolicyofanotherCountry
EnglandsHealthcarepolicyismuchdifferentfromthepolicyhereintheUnited
States.AllresidentsofEnglandreceivehealthcarecoverageforthemselvesandtheir
families.TheyreceivethiscoveragefromtheNationHealthServices.

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

This service is run by two divisions of Parliament, the Secretary of State for
Health and the Department of Health. The NHS covers preventative services
including physician visits, screenings, immunizations, vaccinations, and
inpatient and outpatient care. It also covers inpatient and outpatient drugs, some
dental care, some eye care, palliative care, rehabilitation, some long-term care
and mental health care including most care for those with learning disabilities.
Learning disabilities are not taken lightly here since the Equality Act of 2010
(Eaton,2013).
The only things that may not be covered by the NHS is prescription drugs. The drugs can
cost about 7.65 pounds which is equivalent to $11.52 US dollars. In England service
seem to be cheaper for example every time you need a dentistry treatment you have to pay
two hundred and nine pounds which is about three hundred and fifteen US dollars. Here in
the states people pay according to procedure. If you need a bridge or root canal it can be
thousands of dollar just depending on the service.
People in England are not placed in a doughnut hole where they pay large amounts of
money for prescriptions and services toward the end or beginning of the year. Also they do
not have to pay monthly premiums like the Americans do.
My Policy Alternative
My policy alternative is Your Health Service. My goal is to come to a common
ground with a set rate for out of pocket costs for the American people in the United
States. You must be residing in the US to receive coverage and benefits. The benefits
depend on your employment. If you make minimum wage then your out of pocket cost
should be very low or nothing. If you are of middle class and have two or more children in
school your cost should be calculated in order to have great coverage and no copays just a

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

minimum yearly premium. Often times many struggle with high copays and deductibles.
Removing all copays and having no deductible for all. Moreover, people who are wealthy
with or without children will have a the option to have same benefits as the middle class
however they should try to give back to a specific fund that is set aside for medical relief
programs for the less fortunate. What I mean by that is people who are homeless or living
below poverty level. Also in the case that someone is homeless or below the poverty level
this policy can not deny anyone services to them. Services must be provided to everyone
regardless of sex, religion, gender, race and political point of views. In England the Nation
Health Services has universal coverage. Treatment that is done in the emergency room for
infectious disease is free. Unfortunately here the US nothing is free. I would also like that
to be the case in my policy for (YHS)Your Health Service. This alternative policy needs
occur from federal policy. Once it is approved federally then it would become local and in
the state.
This policy can work if the spending of tax payers funds remain for most of their
healthcare costs. Trillions of dollars are being spent and it is never for the right reasons. If
you are in the YHS new health care program you will want to make sure you stay in your
network. This simply means that you stay within your insurers network. This allows for a
negotiated rate between your network and the participating physician. One must remember
just because a doctor refers you to a particular physican that doctor may not be in your
network and that will cause for outragous costs to you and your insurance company. At
times one may need to find out about any additional out of pocket costs if you do not ask
you will never know. Prescription drugs can be very costly with the new YHS you can
generic drugs for ninety days at a low cost for ten dollars a month and any desired
pharmacy you choose. The drugs consist of your everyday drugs for diabetes, cholesterol,

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

blood pressure, heart, birth control, acid reflex, and antibiotics. These are issues that are
common among many. The drug costs need to be the same for everyone. Moreover drugs
can cost less if you get your drug through the mail. Mail-order pharmacies often provide
a three-month supply of drugs for the same price as a one-month supply at a local
pharmacy. This strategy could save you more than $1,000 per year on the cost of Crestor,
for example(Lankford,2011). Another suggestion could be splitting your pills. Many
people taking different prescription drugs and the milligrams can vary. Say you take 75
milligrams of levothyroxine you could in turn have your doctor prescribe you 150
milligrams and then cut it and you have two pills for the price of one. You would be able
to save a lot per year by doing this. According to an article I read some employers offer
cash back to their employees who sign up for a healthy living program. YHS will have all
employers be enrolled and participate in this program. Each employer must offer their
employees cash back if they are in a healthy living program whether it be at a gym, local
community, or even a facility that is provided by employer.
Cash in on wellness benefits. More than 40% of large employers surveyed by the
National Business Group on Health now offer discounts for participating in
wellness programs, and the average incentive to employees is $380. Some
employers may add $75 to your health savings account if you participate in an
exercise program, and some add even more if you get a health assessment
(Lankfort, 2011).

YHS provides flexible spending accounts to all its participants. The funds that are on your
flex spending card are tax free in order for you to pay out of pocket medical costs that
accumulate throughout the year. I feel very strong about this policy being feasible. I feel

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money is being spent on different reasons and the most important spending should be on
healthcare for all like in England. Why is it so hard for the government to use proper funds
and organized spending to enhance the quality of life for its citizens whom have worked
hard and continue to work and pay taxes. It seems that the short end of the stick is given
back to many and it is not fair.

Policy meets Goals

YHS policy is place in order to meet the goals of all individuals who will have or
are seeking to obtain health care coverage in the Unites States. The YHS will provide
quality healthcare services, prescription drug coverage, wellness benefits, preventative
healthcare, and substance abuse programs. All the programs are available to all in the
United States regardless of your place of employment, social economic status, or if you
are unemployed and homeless. There are no reason why you can not be covered with
healthcare by the YHS. With YHS there are no donut hole like the current healthcare
coverage. We hope to work with states, communities, private organizations in order to
provide outreach and enrollment assistance in order to provide everyone with coverage.
YHS prohibit discriminatory premium rates based on health status,
occupation, gender, or sexual orientation; protect issuers against the financial
risk of enrolling a disproportionate number of individuals with significant
medical needs; and require insurance companies to spend at least 80% or 85%
of health insurance premiums on medical care and quality-improving
activities, not on profits and overhead, and to report how they spend
premiums(StrategicGoal,2015).

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The importance of low cost premiums is a must when individuals are looking for plans.
High cost premiums are not practice for this day and age. Many people have a tremendous
amount of expenses and do not need to worry about high costing premiums for healthcare
benefits.
Protecting and providing for all people of the United States will allow for quality
health and a better change for longer productive lives. There is a need for health plans to
implement an appeals process for coverage determinations and by prohibiting insurers
from placing lifetime limits on essential health benefits, denying coverage based on preexisting conditions, and dropping people from coverage when they get sick (Strategic
Goal,2015) this seems to occur so often and it tries to limit and deny coverage.
I found a video on YouTube that talks about the outrage at equal Healthcare
Coverage for Women. https://youtu.be/OjwOhw_SGgc. It seems as if men and woman are
signed up with the same coverage. For example men are signed up for maternity coverage.
This has to do with the Affordable care Act. Unfortunately the government did not do it
research why would a single young man need maternity coverage. However the new YHS
policy will not make that mistake. Coverage for individuals, families, male or female will
be determined in an organized manner. The YHS will not offer maternity coverage to a
male who would never need it. That is absurd and will not be allowed.

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

In the United States today the majority of people without health care coverage
seems to be high. According to the US National Library if Medicine in the 21st century
there are over forty-four million people who are not covered. Many of them are working
and are under the age of sixty five. A huge gap exists in the current United States system
of health care wherein there is no cogent benefit, only a vicious cycle as the insured
continue to pay more for their care to help compensate provider losses due to the
uninsured. This in turn causes a growing rank of uninsured individuals that lack access to
adequate health care (Falen T, 2004).
The YHS policy needs to be approved for everyone. This healthcare policy will
provide the best healthcare benefits and allow for a healthier America. It will require funds
and participating physicians. It will be a tough road but if the majority cooperate anything
can be accomplished. Many physicians nowadays simply feel that they need to overcharge
their patients. With YHS the cost will never go up or down the prices are set within the
insurance group and the primary physicians as well was the other offices of specialty
physicians. The elder people get coverage no matter what their income is. If they are the
age of sixty and older. Individuals who suffer from disabilities are not required to pay any
premiums because they are disabled and are unable to pay for coverage. Prescription
drugs also have a set price that way there are not gauges in prices in the future. The set
prices need to stay for at least two consecutive years with out a change on price. For
example if you are employed and you make minimuin wage you need to pay one hour of
your pay per week from your pay check. Basically thats all you would pay for your
healthcare coverage. The government would also take half of all tax payers money and put
it towards their healthcare as an allowance that could be used for extreme procedures.

Running head: POLICY ALTERNATIVE PAPER

I feel that this policy has potential. Moreover it is important for all Americans to
have coverage. I currently struggle with paying my premiums. Four out of five people in
my home are college students we all need vehicles which need insurance. Then you have
home expenses. It is hard to come up will all these costs. If coverage was available then
that would reduce costs for individuals and their families. I do realize that physicians,
hospitals, clinics, and different facilities need funds in order to stay running. We get taxed
at stores, restaurants, and just about everything we do those funds need to go to out
healthcare. Every individual deserves quality healthcare in order to stay healthy and have
the best quality of life. As a social worker I feel the need to help individuals in all areas
that may need help. I have a passion to be useful and help anyway possible. Advocating
and trying to get policies to come about takes time, research, and help from everyone who
are fighting for their rights for this particular policy. The NASW supports active
participation of social workers on public and private health care policy and planning
bodies. Also efforts to provide comprehensive education in healthcare social work,
working with the Council on Social Work Education (HealthCarePolicy,n.d.).Social
workershavesuperpowersandtheycanshowindividualshowtofindtheirsuperpowers.

References:
DeCamp, L. R., & Bundy, D. G. (2012). Generational Status, Health Insurance, and
Public Benefit Participation Among Low-Income Latino Children. Maternal and Child
Health Journal, 16(3), 735743. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0779-8
Eaton, C. (2013, February 15). My Experience Using England's Healthcare. Retrieved
November 27, 2015,
from https://www.unh.edu/healthyunh/blog/2013/02/my-experience-using-englandshealthcare

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Falen T. U.S. health care policy and the rising uninsured: an alternative solution. J
Health Soc Policy. 2004;19(4):125. doi: 10.1300/J045v19n04_01.
HealthCarePolicy.(n.d.).RetrievedNovember28,2015,from
https://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/swMonth/2012/toolkit/standards/Health
CarePolicy.PDF
KM Freund, AP Isabelle, A Hanchate, RL Kalish, A Kapoor, S Bak, RG Mishuris, S
Shroff, TA Battaglia, The Impact of Health Insurance Reform on Insurance Instability
J Health Care Poor Underserved. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 May 28.
108.doi:10.1353 /hpu.2014.0061
Laffer A. The laffer curve, past, present and future. Heritage Foundation; Washington, DC:
2004.
Lankford, K. (2011, April 1). 30 Ways to Cut Health Care Costs. Retrieved November 27,
2015, from
http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T027-C000-S002-30-ways-to-cut-healthcare-costs.html
Strategic Goal 1. (2015, January 14). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from
http://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/strategic-goal-1/index.html#obj_a

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