Bridging the Gap: Addressing the Need for North Carolina to Accept the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Expansion in Order to Close the Gap Between Medicaid and Private Insurance Coverage of its Uninsured Adult Population

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  • June 17, 2020
Creator
  • Sylvan, Caprice
    • Affiliation: School of Nursing
Abstract
  • The overall goal of this qualitative research study is to explore and explain North Carolina General Assembly’s reasons for denying the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion and its constituents’ responses to this decision. This is a N.C. health policy issue focusing on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population within the realm of this political healthcare debate which is: the gap coverage population consisting of uninsured, childless, working non-elderly adults who are too poor to afford private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid. This investigative study project attempts to answer the following questions: 1) Why does North Carolina need to accept the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Medicaid Expansion? 2) How did the state's decision to deny Medicaid expansion impact the healthcare management of its uninsured adult population? Data was gathered through a literature review of publically related articles and audio recorded interviews from 10 informants residing within North Carolina’s tri-county (Wake, Durham, Orange) and rural areas. Data analysis was completed by reviewing the transcribed audio recordings for common themes, new understandings, and interpretations concerning how North Carolina’s rejection of Medicaid Expansion had affected its uninsured adult population. An integration and analysis of the perceptions of the participants revealed that nine out of 10 participants are in support of Medicaid Expansion. Nine out of ten participants reported that they knew of individuals who were personally affected by being within the gap between private and Medicaid insurance. Eight out of ten participants stated that they did not know of any current state level alternative insurance plans or changes in health policy made to accommodate those individuals within the gap population. These findings will help establish an evidence-based valid argument supporting the need for the NC General Assembly to accept Medicaid Expansion in order to close the gap between private insurance and Medicaid coverage.
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  • In Copyright
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  • Funding: None
Advisor
  • Rodgers, Shielda
Degree
  • Bachelor of Science
Honors level
  • Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2015
Language
  • English
Extent
  • 48

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