Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

The Affect of Health Care Interest Groups on Federal Health Care Reform: From the 1980s to the Affordable Care Act

Healthcare in the United States is a massive industry that thoroughly affects all Americans from all walks of life, though for 44% of working age adults struggle to afford it. 9.2% of working adults have no insurance at all and are not eligible for government sponsored health insurance. Since the 1980s there has been little federal healthcare reform as health care and health insurance costs continue to rise. Healthcare interest groups such as physician groups, hospital owners, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc. have thoroughly influenced and lobbied the U.S federal government to block any change in the healthcare industry. If any bills or reform is enacted, it has been thoroughly weakened by politicians aligned with interest groups. What is the effect of healthcare interest groups on federal healthcare reform in the United States from the 1980s to the Affordable Care Act? Political Science helps answer the question by looking at the political process of healthcare reform as well as how healthcare interest groups lobby the federal government. Sociology helps answer the question by examining how healthcare reform or lack there of has affected the U.S population and the healthcare industry. Sociology and political science both analyze the relationship between U.S politicians and healthcare interest groups. Federal healthcare reform from the 1980s to the Affordable Care Act has been thoroughly affected by healthcare interest groups that influence the U.S government by lobbying and coercion.