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S3821: Affordable Health Care Options Act 2020

Summary
 This policy amends the Public health service act and offers alternatives to the expensive healthcare
insurance options by offering these individualized, renewable, short-term and limited-duration
insurance policies.

 All citizens deserve quality healthcare services, which they are more likely to seek out when they are
insured. However, many people simply can’t afford health insurance coverage.

Background & Evidence

 Evidence demonstrates that many uninsured people die because they cannot afford quality healthcare,
typically these are individuals who are unemployed or working low wage jobs that lack benefits.

 Coverage options offered by traditional insurance companies often include many unnecessary and
unneeded services; resulting in high premiums and making them unattainable for the poor (Groce,
2020).

 The history of healthcare insurance has transformed over the years. Health insurance began in 1920 by
insurance and private providers. Medicaid and Medicare also joined the market, but today, there are
still uninsured Americans struggling to meet their healthcare needs.

Policy Outline
 Short-term duration insurance gives more flexibility for citizens by allowing them to opt- out of
benefits that they will not use. The short-term plan gives an individual a more personalized and
affordable coverage plan.
 Short-term duration plans cost about 54% less than the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, which
accept everyone regardless of their economic and health status (Health Insurance, 2019). One
of the most promising aspects of these plans is the fact that they cannot charge additional
coverage costs for those people with pre-existing conditions.
 The current ACA plans focus on limiting premium costs by restricting provider networks and
coverage providers within one hospital system (Groce, 2020). The short-term plan option is
flexible and allows the opportunity to seek services from the provider of choice.

Recommendation
As practicing nurses, we ask that you support this Senate bill 3821:Affordable Healthcare Options Act 2020.
This bill will provide more people with more options and greater access to quality healthcare services at an
affordable rate; improving our Nation’s health as a whole.

References
Courtemanche, C., Marton, J., Ukert, B., Yelowitz, A., & Zapata, D. (2018). Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Health
Care Access and Self-Assessed Health After 3 Years. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization,
Provision, and Financing, 55, 004695801879636. doi:10.1177/0046958018796361
Groce, N. E., & Groce, N. (2020). In the US, even those with excellent healthcare insurance plans struggle. Bmj, M808.
doi:10.1136/bmj.m808
ShortTermHealthInsurance.com. (2019, January 22). 6 Unexpected Benefits of Short Term Health Insurance. Retrieved
September 21, 2020, frohttps://shorttermhealthinsurance.com/6-unexpected-benefits-of-short-term-health-
insurance/

Contact Us
Kemisola Adeyemi, Shavonna Bryant and Corrine Flora
Sbrya006@odu.edu