Health Care Policy Public Policy

How does the government attempt to ensure access to Public Policy intro How does the government attempt to ensure access to health care to people?

Uninsured Public Policy

Health Care Policy Costs of Health Care Costs Health care costs account for 20% of GDP The US spends more on health care than any other advanced economy Over a quarter of all federal spending goes towards health care Health care costs make it increasingly difficult to balance the budget Americans tend to pay more for care and receive less care than peers

Health Care Policy Costs of Health Care Costs

Health Care Policy Costs of Health Care Reasons New technologies, drugs, and treatments are developed here The profit driven health providers have overbuilt facilities – outpacing demand Because of private health insurance, there is no incentive for patients or doctors to find less expensive options Doctors are reimbursed for what they do, not for the most efficient treatments The uninsured drive up health care costs for the total population

Health Care Policy Access to Health Care How People Get It Most Americans get private health insurance through their jobs Others are able to purchase insurance as an individual, but it costs much more Americans 65 and older can get Medicare from the govt Americans living near the poverty threshold can get insurance from the govt through Medicaid

Health Care Policy Access to Health Care How People Get It

Health Care Policy Uninsured Uninsured Nearly 30 million Americans do not have health insurance. Many of them are younger and healthier than average – have no need for it. Most uninsured Americans are full time employees, but work for companies that do not help them obtain insurance Non-white Americans are disproportionately uninsured.

Health Care Policy Uninsured Uninsured

Most uninsured Americans make too much to qualify for Medicaid Health Care Policy Uninsured Uninsured Most uninsured Americans make too much to qualify for Medicaid They work, but for smaller companies, and don’t earn enough to buy insurance

Fun With Stock Photos Medicare Public Policy

Health Care Policy Medicare Medicare Medicare started in 1965 and covers everyone over the age of 65 It covers about 55 million people, or 17% of the population It’s funded by a payroll tax, like Social Security Its cost is the fastest growing part of the federal budget Its costs are already outpacing contributions to the Medicare Trust Fund

Health Care Policy Medicare Medicare Medicare Part A is for everyone and covers hospital costs for old people Medicare Part B is optional – and provides insurance for doctors and other non-hospital fees Medicare Part D is the newest part, also optional, and covers prescription drugs It typically covers about half of the costs of the care provided and people are responsible for the rest in some other form

It’s trust fund is expected to run out of money by 2030 Health Care Policy Medicare Medicare Problems It is hard to reduce costs at all without cutting benefits – which is hard because old people (and AARP) are such a strong political force It is banned by Congress from negotiating cheaper rates despite being the largest insurance provider in the US It’s trust fund is expected to run out of money by 2030

Health Care Policy Medicare Costs

Health Care Policy Medicaid Medicaid Provides similar service to Medicare for those with limited income It is run by both the federal govt and the states – unlike Medicare (all federal) Medicaid is means-tested while Medicare is an entitlement program Each state has a lot of freedom in setting eligibility requirements States are not required to even offer it, although all have since 1982

Health Care Policy Medicaid Medicaid

Health Care Policy Medicaid Medicaid

Affordable Care Act Public Policy

ObamaCare Public Policy

Health Care Policy Obamacare Affordable Care Act Reformed the health care system starting in 2010 with a gradual rollout It set federal guidelines for private insurance companies & their service It made states responsible for selling insurance to those who could not get it It expanded Medicaid eligibility – which was funded by the federal govt but the decision to do so was left up to the states

Health Care Policy Obamacare Affordable Care Act Prevented insurance companies from denying coverage to preexisting conditions Prevented insurance companies from putting lifetime caps on coverage Allowed young people to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 It eliminated additional costs for “preventative care” It forced businesses with 50 employees to offer health insurance to employees

Health Care Policy Obamacare Affordable Care Act Set federal guidelines for the minimum level of coverage that could be offered Set guidelines for what services had to be offered to women Mandated that premiums had to be the same for everyone of the same age Individual mandate – required that people buy health insurance OR pay a tax penalty

Medicaid expansion under ACA Health Care Policy Obamacare Medicaid expansion under ACA

Health Care Policy Obamacare Affordable Care Act

Millions are still uninsured Health Care Policy Obamacare Problems Millions are still uninsured States refused to implement provisions of ACA (Medicaid expansion/marketplaces) Made insurance premiums increase for nearly all Americans when it began The penalty for not buying insurance was too small to get people to buy insurance

Bigly Ideas Public Policy

Public Policy Wrap Up High Costs in US Medicare & Medicaid Uninsured People Affordable Care Act Focus on these things: