The U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world. More money is spent on it here than in any other country, both in absolute terms (almost $3 trillion a year – that’s 16 percent of the nation’s GDP) and per capita – more than $15,000. The share of GDP allocated to health care is expected to rise to 19.5% by 2017.
Major laws governing the industry began as early as the presidency of Lyndon Johnson (1863-1869). Johnson greatly strengthened the country’s social policy, fighting poverty and racial segregation. It was under him that the Medicare program was introduced. It is a public health insurance, which provided quality care for the elderly population of the United States.
Modern America does not have the MHI system that we are used to. The health insurance rules there are completely different.
Medicaid health insurance system
This type of insurance protects the rights of the poor since 1965. To enroll in this program, a person must:
gather documents proving low income
Fill out a series of forms.
The system provides medical assistance to families with many children and people with disabilities. The list of services covered by Medicaid includes:
- doctor’s consultations
- hospital stay
- Vaccinations
- Prescription drugs
- Preventive care for children
- Long-term care, and others.
Medicare
Medicare is a special federal health insurance program for people over the age of 65 and for those with terminal kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
As Medicare enrollment grows, the government plans to increase spending on this program from the current 3% of GDP to approximately 6%.
Medicare requires cost sharing. But 90% of participants have other types of insurance – employer-sponsored private insurance, Medicaid, or a Medigap plan.
There is also a Medicare Advantage insurance plan. It costs members about 12% more than traditional Medicare. This system gives many more treatment options. Another type, Medicare Part D, allows members to get their prescription drugs at a discounted rate.