In this Discussion, you will identify a recently proposed health policy and share your analysis of the evidence in support of this policy. Healthy policy discussion

Healthy policy discussion

The health policy selected is the implementation of universal healthcare coverage in the United States. This policy aims to address the issue of lack of access to affordable healthcare for certain segments of the population, leading to negative health outcomes and financial burdens. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2020, “nearly 30 million nonelderly US adults were uninsured in 2018, and an additional 41 million had precarious insurance arrangements” (Lin et al., 2020). This lack of healthcare coverage disproportionately affects marginalized communities, such as low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and immigrants (Lin et al., 2020). One social determinant that significantly affects this policy is income inequality. Lower income individuals are more likely to be uninsured and face barriers to accessing healthcare services (Lin et al., 2020). In addition, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access and outcomes have also been well documented (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). There is an evidence base to support the implementation of universal healthcare coverage. A systematic review published in the Lancet in 2021 found that universal healthcare systems are associated with better health outcomes, including lower mortality rates and improved access to care, compared to non-universal systems (Smith et al., 2021). Cont…