1. Health Care Policy
Public Policy

2. 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?

3. Uninsured
Public Policy

4. 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

5. Health Care Policy
Costs of Health Care
Costs

6. 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

7. 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

8. Health Care Policy
Access to Health Care
How People Get It

9. 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.

10. Health Care Policy
Uninsured
Uninsured

11. 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

12. Fun With Stock Photos
Medicare
Public Policy

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Health Care Policy
Medicare
Costs

17. 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

18. Health Care Policy
Medicaid
Medicaid

19. Health Care Policy
Medicaid
Medicaid

20. Affordable Care Act
Public Policy

21. ObamaCare
Public Policy

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

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

26. Health Care Policy
Obamacare
Affordable Care Act

27. 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

28. Bigly Ideas
Public Policy

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