Dennis & Patten Participation in Government Mepham High School Health Care Reform in America.
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Transcript of Dennis & Patten Participation in Government Mepham High School Health Care Reform in America.
Dennis & PattenParticipation in Government
Mepham High School
Health Care Reform in America
ACME Insurance Agency
• Private insurance policy is available to all for the following costs:
• Self-Employed: – Individual- $200/month– Family- $400/month
• Employer Contribution: – Individual- $50/month– Family- $120/month
• Decide whether or not you will purchase insurance.
• List reasons for and against purchasing insurance.
Discussion?
• How might some of these issues be resolved?
President Obama and Healthcare Reform
“Health care reform is no longer just a moral imperative, it’s a fiscal imperative. If we want to create jobs and rebuild our economy and get our federal budget under control, then we have to address the crushing cost of health care this year, in this administration.”
~ President Obama, White House
Forum on Health Care Reform
Entitlement Programs
• Entitlements guarantee that Americans receive benefits by federal law.
• Entitlement programs are part of the federal budget labeled mandatory spending that must be funded by law.
The Healthcare Problem
• The rising costs of health care and health insurance pose a serious threat to the future fiscal condition of the U.S.
4% of GDP in 20096% of GDP in 201912% of GDP by 2050
The Healthcare Policy Dilemma
Policymakers will face difficult trade offs between two objectives:
1. Expanding insurance coverage WHILE
2. Controlling both total and federal costs for healthcare
Who Pays for Health Care?
Most Americans (85%) have some form of health insurance
Health insurance - any program that helps pay for medical expenses
Three general health care payment categories:
1. private insurance2. government programs3. uninsured
Private insurance
• Most Americans (59.3%) receive their health insurance coverage through an employer under group coverage
• Since 2001, family coverage premiums have increased by 28%, while wages have only increased by 16%
Government Programs
• 27.8% of Americans (83 million) are covered by government health care programs
• Federal law mandates public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay
• Public Programs:1. Medicaid2. Medicare3. Other programs: State
Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), military system, veterans affairs
Medicare
• Provides health insurance for U.S. citizens over the age of 65
• Medicare is partially funded by payroll taxes a.k.a. F.I.C.A. tax
Medicaid
• Health insurance program for low income adults, children, and people with certain disabilities
• Means test is required
• About 60% of the poor are not covered by Medicaid
The Uninsured
There are millions of Americans who have
insufficient or no health care insurance
• 45.7 million (15.3% uninsured in America) • In 2007, nearly 70% of the uninsured
lived in families headed by a full-time worker
• 8.1 million uninsured children
Source: http://www.hr-onesource.com/ppt/01-patton_healthcare.pdf
Why Uninsured?
• Rising healthcare costs force many employers to drop employee health insurance
• Many working poor make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford health insurance
• Unemployment• Some healthy people choose to go without
health insurance• Some rejected by insurance
companies because they have pre-existing conditions
• Results:Many don’t go to the doctor Increase in emergency
room care
Healthcare in the U.S.
Today
How do we improve our healthcare system?