Test 1 Flashcards
How does the World Health Organization (WHO) define health?
Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
What are the top five causes of preventable premature death for individuals under 80?
Unintentional injury
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Heart disease
Stroke
Cancer
What is the primary goal of the U.S. healthcare system?
The primary goal is to provide cost-effective healthcare access for individuals.
What are the strengths of the U.S. healthcare system?
Advanced technology
Strong research
High-quality medical training
What are the key weaknesses of the U.S. healthcare system?
Financing
Administrative costs
Access for low socioeconomic groups
Lack of long term care
Illness prevention
High per capita cost but low health outcome rankings
How does the U.S. healthcare system work for different groups of people?
Under 65: Employer-paid insurance.
Native Americans, military, veterans: Government-run hospitals.
Over 65: Medicare (government-funded).
What impact would Medicare for all have on healthcare providers?
It would reduce reimbursement amounts for healthcare providers.
What are the key components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
Expands coverage
Controls healthcare costs
Improves healthcare delivery.
Who are the key stakeholders in the U.S. healthcare system?
Lobbyists
Hospitals
Companies
Insurance companies
Medicare
The public
How has the U.S. healthcare system evolved over time (1900, 1950, 2000)?
1900: Healthcare provided at home, with bartering as the primary payment method.
1950: Hospitals became central, with employer-provided insurance plans and more power to insurance companies.
2000: Care expanded to hospitals, clinics, and private practices, with more government involvement and a greater role for employers and insurers.
What are the four main modes of payment in U.S. healthcare?
Out of pocket
Private insurance
Employment-based insurance
Government financing
What are the key characteristics of out-of-pocket payment?
Unpredictable costs
Frequency of need
Reliance on doctor recommendations,
The most common form of payment in the early 20th century.
What led to the development of private hospital insurance (Blue Cross)?
The Great Depression in the 1930s led to low hospital occupancy rates, which pushed the development of hospital-specific insurance plans like Blue Cross.
What are the components of Medicare, and how is each part funded?
Part A: Hospital insurance for those over 65 or with certain disabilities, funded by Social Security taxes.
Part B: Outpatient services insurance, funded by federal revenues and monthly premiums.
Part C (Medicare Advantage): Private insurance alternative to Medicare A and B.
Part D: Prescription drug coverage, funded by premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
What are some challenges of Medicare Part D?
Gaps in coverage
Lack of negotiation for lower prices until 2026
Confusion due to multiple insurance administrators.
What is Medicaid and who is eligible?
Medicaid is a jointly funded federal and state program providing coverage for low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, and seniors.
Eligibility is determined by income and other factors
What is CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)?
A Medicaid companion program aimed at increasing healthcare coverage for low-income children, funded through 2026.
How did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impact Medicaid?
The ACA expanded Medicaid eligibility to citizens and legal residents with family income below 138% of the federal poverty line starting in 2014.
Why is healthcare not considered a normal economic market?
Information asymmetry
Insurance as insulation: cost-sharing by insurance hides the real cost from consumers
Conflicting interests
Tax subsidies: market is distorted by subsidies provided by employers and employees
Failure of competition: individual nature of insurance
plans and hospitals keep them from competing as market goods
Suppliers
What are the benefits of having health insurance?
Increases access to care.
Improves health outcomes.