MHR Student Investigates Social Insurance Mechanisms in the United States

Ta'Mara Hill Served as a Merton C. Bernstein Intern on Social Insurance Over the Summer

Ta'Mara Hill (MHR '21) is a second year Master of Human Rights student with a concentration in conflict and international security. This summer, Ta'Mara interned with the National Academy of Social Insurance where she had the opportunity to research U.S. social insurance systems, including through comparative analysis of U.S. health policies to other global health systems. Read our interview with Ta'Mara below to hear about her experience.

Human Rights Program (HRP): Please describe your summer internship or project and the work that you did during this time.

Ta'Mara Hill (TH): I served as a Merton C. Bernstein Intern on Social Insurance at the National Academy of Social Insurance this summer. The Academy focuses on public policy research and public education concerning social insurance systems in the United States. This summer I co-authored a report on Medicaid, conducted a literature review on the impact COVID-19 is having on social insurance, and spent time working on comparative analysis of global health systems.

HRP: What made you choose this internship specifically? How does the work you were doing this summer relate to your area of study at UMN?

TH: I am interested in the human rights implications of our country's current health policies. As such, the Academy gave me the opportunity to learn about the importance of social insurance to quality of life, and the ways in which the current paradigm can be improved. In addition, the Academy internship offered weekly professional development seminars, which was very attractive to me as a young professional.

HRP: What kinds of projects have you been working on this summer? Does one in particular stand out as being of great value and/ or interest?

TH: I think the most interesting project I worked on this summer was the comparative analysis of global health systems. Through this work, I had the opportunity to take a critical look both at our own health system- that which exists in the U.S.- as well as at global health systems that I once considered to be ideal. I additionally was able to examine foreign policies that could be of use to the U.S. in the creation of a better healthcare system- both for our economy and citizens. In my research, I learned that, while, no health system is perfect. The United States has yet to overcome significant hurdles that have already been successfully navigated by other countries.

HRP: What are some of your key takeaways from this experience?

TH: My internship required me to utilize my skills in advocacy, patience, and adaptability. This summer was an intense time to be working on health care policy; the Academy often had to be critically reactive to choices made by the Trump Administration concerning COVID-19 and payroll tax cuts (which directly affect social insurance). I learned that, in addition to working on ongoing projects, it's important to make space for pressing issues as they come along.

HRP: How has this experience challenged you? Was your work impacted by COVID-19?

TH: My experience was supposed to take place in Washington D.C. However, due to COVID-19 I worked from Minneapolis. Being actively present in the cohort and professional development seminars was quite difficult. For me, remaining present and engaged in virtual meetings requires more mindfulness and concentration; efforts that I found to be very worthwhile.

HRP: How will this experience help or inform your career path or professional interests?

TH: This experience helped me to better identify the kind of career that I would like to pursue in the future. It also allowed me to make connections in the D.C. area that are of great value to me, as I would like to move to D.C. after graduation.

Ta'Mara Hill

Share on: