Unit VIII Research Paper

Running head: SOC 1010

SOC 1010, Introduction to Sociology 3

Name

University

Facts

According to ACA (2017), The Affordable Care Act constitutes of three facts:

Make affordable health insurance accessible: The law allows premium tax credits that allows for households that earn a low income afford health insurance. Households that have an income between 100% and 400% level of the Federal poverty level are subject to premium tax credits. Federal poverty level is different for every state and is determined annually.

The Medicaid expanded to accommodate for adults earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level. Notably, not all states do this.

Innovative medical care delivery methods adopted to make healthcare affordable.

Applying the perspectives

An interactionist theorist would study the effects of ACA on the different social classes. The social institution of healthcare is divided as the quality of healthcare is determined by the amount deducted from an individual. The effect of the ACA reform is studied to determine the change of view in the self-worth of individuals and its difference in the different social stratifications. The rich may not have a problem altering their payments to suit the quality of healthcare they seek but the poor will do.
A conflict theorist would perceive ACA as a point of conflict between the rich and the poor. The rich seem to have power and control over the health care unlike the poor. Instead of the government making health insurance mandatory therefore adding burden to individuals that do not afford, they could make reforms on the government-funded programs available to assist those unable to afford healthcare.

A functionalist perspective would imply that making health insurance mandatory is unnecessary, as the individuals initially did not have to pay (Lawler, 2014).

Notably, a functionalist theorist would contend that we require all individuals from society to be as sound as conceivable with the end goal for them to add to society through their typical parts. Despite what might be expected, a conflict theorist would contend that, in giving everybody healthcare services, we are empowering an inescapable battle over rare assets. At last, one side is contending that widespread healthcare services is required for a working society, while alternate rejoinders that it is not an essential need for each individual, and that we have to consider how we can best use our assets. It is clashes like these that make ACA such a disputable subject, and that have along these lines postponed any sort of advance.

Personal Belief

ACA is not affordable to all households. It should not be mandatory. However, it should not deem as a failure as more time should be given to assess that.

Sociological imagination

I developed my personal belief on Affordable Care Act majorly based on class. The presence of different social classes excludes those of lower social classes from affordable health care. In addition, race; as a big percentage of those in lower social classes are African-American (Lawler, 2014).

Research process

According to Lawler (2014), the research process to study the belief of individuals on the Affordable Care Act would USE the scientific method. The first step is to define the problem where the impact of ACA on individuals is studied.

The second stage would be to determine more facts on the topic through research of existing resources. Existing resources would help avoid problems already encountered in previous research. A hypothesis can then be formed after studying existing resources. A study can then be designed to determine if the individuals had another form of insurance and the two put in comparison. A conclusion after data is analyzed is reached and a report is made.

References

Affordable Care Act (ACA) - HealthCare.gov Glossary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2017, from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/

Lawler, S. (2014). Identity: sociological perspectives. Cambridge: Polity.