- Defend or critique the primary alternative sources of health care funding in the United States. Analyze the main effect on the resource owner of one of the following means of financing health care: insurance premiums, tax subsidies, and mandated benefits. Provide at least one example that illustrates the selected effect to support your response.
- Analyze the key types of policies required for the delivery of a public health insurance program, and hypothesize their main effects on the achievement of social goals overall. Provide at least one example of such effects to support your response.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: In this response, we will examine the primary alternative sources of health care funding in the United States and analyze the main effect on the resource owner of insurance premiums as a means of financing health care. Additionally, we will analyze the key types of policies required for the delivery of a public health insurance program and hypothesize their main effects on the achievement of social goals overall.
1. Alternative sources of health care funding in the United States include employer-sponsored insurance, government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, and individual insurance purchased on private markets. Each of these sources has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is necessary to evaluate them critically.
Employer-sponsored insurance often offers comprehensive coverage for individuals and their families, but it is often tied to employment, which limits access and creates uncertainty for those who lose or change jobs. Medicaid and Medicare provide coverage for low-income individuals and the elderly, respectively, but the program’s amount of coverage can vary from state to state, and it does not cover all medical expenses. The individual insurance purchased on private markets is often expensive, with limited coverage and high deductibles, which can leave people struggling to pay medical bills.
Insurance premiums, which are a means of financing health care, can have a significant effect on the resource owner. For example, high premiums can make it challenging for individuals and families to afford coverage. This, in turn, can discourage people from seeking medical care, which can lead to adverse health outcomes. This is illustrated by the high number of uninsured individuals in the United States, despite available insurance programs. Conversely, low premiums can create affordability and accessibility to healthcare, increases health care utilization, which can lead to better health outcomes overall.
2. The key types of policies required for the delivery of a public health insurance program include eligibility, benefit design, payment rates for providers, administrative costs, and quality controls. These policies are designed to ensure that the program provides necessary and equitable health care services to all eligible individuals.
The main effect of these policies on the achievement of social goals overall is to increase access to health care and promote public health. Public health insurance programs have been shown to reduce healthcare expenditure and ensure equitable access to healthcare services. For example, the Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid access to millions of individuals and created subsidies to purchase insurance for those in need, improving health care coverage and reducing disparities.
In conclusion, understanding the primary alternative sources of health care funding in the United States and the policies required for the delivery of a public health insurance program is critical to the overall achievement of social goals and better health outcomes, ensuring affordability, accessibility, and equitability of healthcare services to all eligible individuals.
