Finding Common Ground on Americas Health Care

A Presentation by Chelsea PelfreyFinding Common Ground on Americas Health Care

Our Countrys Health Issue The Affordable Care Act a divergent issueNegative and positive effectscan we find common ground?

The state of our country's health care system is perhaps the most divergent political issue gripping the nation for the past decade, coming to a climax with the 2010 Affordable Care Act. There are negative and positive outcomes of the act. Can the nation agree that the motivations for creating this plan were in the best interest of the American people? In this presentation, we are going to discuss the common ground on Americas health care.

2Common Ground: The Need For ChangePartisan times = need for understandingInherent problems within our system

In such a politically partisan time as this, there is a need to understand both sides of the story. The two parties don't agree on the principles, the strategies or the budgeting of the Affordable Care Act, but we can all try to understand where the change was coming from. Looking at this issues within the health care industry, it is clear that there was a need for change.

3Unaffordable PremiumsMonthly premiums too high for someNature of capitalism 18% of non-elderly are uninsured

A problem with the health care system was that monthly premiums were sometimes too high for some families to afford. Looking at it from a capitalistic perspective, that's simply how the market works. Companies have the right to raise their prices as high as they like. If the consumer cannot afford the product, the consumer goes to another company or goes without. That's what makes competition work. But with health care, there may not be somewhere else to go and going without is not an option. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that in 2011, 18% of non-elderly Americans were uninsured.

4Discrimination of Pre-existing ConditionsDefinition: health condition previously treatedInsurance companies wont cover pre-existing conditionsMust be paid for out of pocketMillions of Americans have a pre-existing condition

A pre-existing condition is a medical condition that occurred before a program of health benefits went into effect. If a client (or potential client) has a pre-existing condition, the insurance company will not pay any part of the treatment for that condition. The patient will have to pay for the expenses out of pocket. According to a 2011 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, around 78 million (19 to 50 percent of) non-elderly Americans have some type of pre-existing health condition.

5Time Lapses in CoverageDefinition: a patient looses coverage during life-changeIssues can turn into pre-existing conditionsIn 2011 of adults experienced gap in coverage

Having to go uninsured due to life changes is yet another part of the health care industry that didnt work as well. To complicate things, health problems that were getting treated with the patient's previous insurance turn into 'pre-existing conditions' if the patient has been in between insurance policies for too long. The persons next insurance company will not be covered by the pre-existing condition. The Commonwealth Fund Health Insurance Tracking Survey of U.S. Adults found that one-quarter of adults ages 19 to 64 experienced a gap in their health insurance in 2011, with a majority remaining uninsured for one year or more.6US Health Care System Was CostlySpent more on health than OECD averageSpent 15% of GDP on health careMore than twice per capita than OECD average

Our health care system was also expensive. We spent more money on health care than any of the six other nations of the OECD (an organization of industrialized countries). A study taken by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the United States spent 15% of its GDP on health care in 2003, while the average percentage of GDP spent on health care in OECD countries was 8.6%. The United States also spends more on health care per capita than any other OECD country. In 2003, total health spending per capita was $5,635 US dollars (adjusted for purchasing power parity), more than twicethe OECD average of $2,307 US dollars.

7Goals of Affordable Care ActOffer more affordable coverageEnd pre-existing discriminationLower health care system costsWhite House Administration promised only positiveChanges

The Affordable Care Act attempted to make coverage more affordable, end pre-existing condition discrimination, and help hold government health costs in check and even cut the federal deficit. The White House Administration promised that for those with insurance, the only changes you will see under the law are new benefits, better protections from insurance company abuses, and more value for every dollar you spend on health care. If you like your plan you can keep it and you dont have to change a thing due to the health care law.8 The Outcome of the Affordable Care Act7+ million signed up for health care 4% more elderly have coverageMajority of Americans say no impactMore reports of harm than helpReports of rise in costs, of loosing insurance coverage

After four years, there have been some notable achievements with the ACA. The White House Administration rightfully boasts that over 7 million Americans have signed up for private health coverage. There has been a rise of 4% of elderly Americans that have coverage. There are also some negative reports of the Affordable Care Act. The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll shows that in May, 2014, most Americans do not feel personally impacted by the law. The poll further reports that, Among the minority who say they have felt an impact, more feel they have been harmed than helped by the law. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll, most of those who report being hurt say it has increased their health care costs, some say it has made it more difficult for them to access care or caused someone in their family to lose insurance.

9Although Flawed, Act Intended to Address NeedsAmericans disagree on Affordable Care ActFlaws in health care system: -unaffordable premiums -discrimination of pre-existing conditions -gaps in coverage -costlinessAffordable Care Act attempted to fix problemsCommon ground: SOMETHING needed to be done

In summary, there are pros and cons with the Affordable Care Act. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, you can look at the issues of the former health system and understand that there was reason for change. We can at least credit the legislation with the intention of addressing needed changes.

10 Questions?

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