Community Health Nursing - Essay Example

Community Health Nursing Community Health Nursing What are the insurance options, are they affordable, do you think these options are a viable solution for most- Why or why not? Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which was ratified and became a new healthcare regulation in September 2010, Georgetown’s young adults who are covered by the medical insurance of their parents have the choice of remaining covered until they attain 26 years of age. Previously, this was not possible as, on attaining adulthood, or graduating, young adults had to make their own health arrangements.

Under the PPACA Act, medical insurance companies in South Carolina also have to extend coverage to children under 19, notwithstanding their health status. In the past, those applying for health insurance had to have restrictions included in their medical insurance offering if they had additional medical conditions. In South Carolina, individuals who are eligible for HIPAA can choose to acquire individual medical insurance from the state’s High Risk Pool which is required to proffer individual medical insurance to all persons, including those with medical conditions.

There are also organizations such as Medicaid to cover individuals who live on a limited income and have fulfilled the requirements of the South Carolina’s Medicaid eligibility panel. Mini-Med, or Guaranteed Health Insurance, is another option for individuals that are not able to meet the requirements for personal major medical insurance. These options are attainable for most people as those who have problems with income have the option of purchasing an insurance plan which has lower premiums and a high deductible that will cover them for accidents or even major illnesses.

Such individuals could also opt for temporary health insurance in order to obtain stopgap coverage when unemployed. Think about how you define health. Do you think your definition is universal, or is it specific to your culture and/or beliefsMy definition of health is influenced by a combination of factors. My education stipulates that physical health is achieved when the body is not affected by illnesses and has elements from the major food groups to oversee its continuation. However, my culture also emphasizes on the importance of spiritual as well as mental health if a human being is to be completely healthy.

I live in a multicultural society, and so my definition of health is also affected by the beliefs of different cultures in my community. For instance, there are people who feel that it is very important for family connections to remain close if all members of the family are to remain in optimum health. This is because this particular community beliefs that bad relationships in the family, or strained ties, interfere with the positive energy within families which is responsible for maintaining the health of all persons in the family.

Different cultures’ definitions of health are usually based on what is believed to be the most important aspect(s) of human existence (Purnell and Paulanka, 2003). For cultures that hold the body to be the main determinant of general health, there will be an emphasis on ensuring that the body gets all the sustenance it requires and is protected from diseases. Other cultures that have more holistic outlooks will emphasize on the importance of ensuring that there is a balance in all aspects of life such as the individual’s marital relationship, relationship with God and other family members, as well as physical health of the body.

ReferencePurnell, L. D., & Paulanka, B. J. (2003). Trans-cultural health care: A culturally competent approach. Philadelphia: E.A. Davis Company.