providing Michigan [residents] health care access.”
This simple concept of increasing access to health care has gained great prominence with the passage and acceptance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, this composite mission statement is often placed secondary to the corporate and monetary interests of these insurance companies. The ACA has placed great emphasis on increasing access to health care while allowing the insurance companies to profit.
In the past, the insurance companies have elevated their business goals over their missions to “provide health care access” in order to profit off of denying care, denying pre-existing conditions, and charging women more for regular health care. All of these issues have been addressed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Consumers can no longer be denied care for any reason, women are no longer charger a higher premium, and a list of preventative and essential benefits are required to be included in all health insurance plans.