1. United States Domestic Policy By Alyssia, Trey, and David

2. Background  US spend more than any other nation on medical treatment  In 2006 we spent more that $2 Trillion  That alone translates into an average of $7000 for every man, woman, and child  Health care spending comprises 1/6 of nation’s economy

3. Continued  American hospitals and doctors are one of the best in the world and we have students from all over the world come to the US to attend our schools but yet many Americans can not afford health insurance.

4. How Health Care works  People pay with their insurance for health care, and their insurance is provided by employers or government programs  That insurance can pay for 90% of CERTAIN medical fees  Medical fees has risen dramatically with cost of medical services  Some companies can no longer afford to provide insurance therefore many Americans go without it

5.  The American medical care for all citizens people believe that government should guarantee adequate medical care for all citizens  Since the early 1900s US leaders have recommended that the federal government make health care accessible for ALL Americans  They came up with two main solutions  Medicare and medicaid.

6. Medicare  41 million Americans age 65 or older or who have disabilities receive Medicare  There is two parts to this program

7. Continued  First part is that it helps pay medical bills but the person must pay a certain amount before Medicare pays for the rest of the bills  Second part is the supplemental medical insurance  This covers 80% of doctor fees, laboratory tests, and other medical expenses

8. Continued  George W. Bush and Congress passed am enhancement to Medicare in 2003 called Part D  This provides optional coverage for prescription drugs

9. Continued  After participants pay an annual premium and a deductible the drug prices are reduced by 75%  In 2006, Medicare spending rose 19% over 2005

10. Medicaid  Joint federal-state program  This helps about 38 million men and women with low income  Federal government matches the state funds  But each state makes its own requirements based on income  Medicaid covers everything the Medicare does but it also covers the fees and premiums for medicate recipients who are near poverty level

11. Paying for good health  National expenses have increased within the last 40 years  They have increase much faster than the standard of living  Federal, state, and local government paid half of the total of $2 Trillion.

12. Continued  3 major developments that have increased the health care costs are  The expansion of a system in which government and insurance companies, rather than patients, pay the medical bills  The introduction of expensive new medical technologies and drugs  The rapid growth of America’s older population

13. Efforts to improve Health Care and Lower Costs  1993 Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton championed sweeping health care reform in hope for achieving health care coverage for ALL Americans  The drug and insurance industries opposed this plan  1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted  This made it easier for people to keep their health insurance even if they change jobs or have a preexisting medical condition

14. Current Issues  Medicare budget  Bush’s 2009 budget proposal included plans to reduce Medicare spending growth which would save $200 billion over 5 years  In October 2008 Medicare stopped paying hospitals for care results in certain preventable errors.

15. Continued  As of now President Obama is asking congress to pass his Health Care Reform plan  He wants to get Health care to everyone who does not have it and to the ones who can not afford it.

16. Best Medicare and Medicaid Plans  Medicare  Preferred care  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Southern California  Geisinger Health Plan  Medicaid  Fallon Community Health Plan  Neighborhood Health Plan  Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

17. Sources  2008 Close Up Foundation Packet  www.healthreform.gov www.healthreform.gov  www.health.usnews.com