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America's Prison Population and Health

In: Social Issues

Submitted By afsheen89
Words 521
Pages 3
America’s prison population has been reported to be sicker than the general population. This includes health conditions and diseases both long and short term. However at the same time this same population has high uninsured rates leaving these same people without any form of health insurance. The Affordable Care Act allows many formerly incarcerated individuals to gain access to health insurance, opening up many possibilities. If a policy maker had to make the decision between whether or not to allow this to pass, by passing it, their decision may have a great benefit to our economy.

If we allowed and opened up new forms of healthcare insurance that could be used specifically for formerly incarcerated individuals, more health insurance companies would have the option to take up on offering such services. By doing so a new chunk of society is able to buy out health insurance, even if it may be the lowest, cheapest form. This is similar to an SR22, which is a form of auto insurance required on top of regular insurance for individuals who are convicted of a DUI. An SR22 is the lowest, most basic and cheapest form of auto insurance, affordable by many, allowing an individual to drive, yet just barely covers them in case of an accident.

By purchasing a basic form of health insurance this benefits not only those individuals who are buying the insurance, but also the health insurance company who is now increasing profits and sales by offering insurance to a group of people who have never received insurance in the first place. At this point those who start offering such services would have the opportunity to set their own prices to an extent, since no other companies offer such a thing. However as time passes and companies realize that by offering such services, they can create producer’s surplus, more companies will enter and sell health insurance specifically setup

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