Healthy Decisions and Unintended Consequences: Implications of the Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) for Higher Education

Abstract Purpose Is health care a right or an entitlement? This question persists in the ongoing political, legal, and social turbulence surrounding efforts toward accessible and affordable health care in the United States. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is drawn from a review of the literature and interviewing a subject matter expert employed by a health maintenance organization in Michigan. Findings Since the early 1900s, federal legislation has been proposed to establish some type of health care structure that could sufficiently address the varying health care needs of Americans. These multiple attempts toward national health care reform invoke the inquiry of the federal government’s role and function to facilitate access to and management of health care. The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) amplifies the conditions and consequences of implementing health care reform effectively. Originality/value For college students, the complexities of both the health care and higher education systems can be overwhelming, especially for those students who may already be struggling to pay for and/or finance their schooling and satisfy academic requirements to matriculate while simultaneously striving to maintain a reasonable level of health to complete their education. College students are but one of many vulnerable populations in the United States impacted by the complicated policies and procedures of accessing, delivering, funding, and paying for health care.