Health Care Reform, and the Issues We Face

As we approach the election this fall, it seems like the news media report on little else. Unfortunately, too little news coverage addresses health care reform. That's wackadoo, because there is still so much to be done to improve the cost, quality, and access for patients within the US health care system.

So let's talk about the major health policy issues we in the US face. This is Healthcare Triage News.

John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics

And the housekeeping:

[steveh]

Dr. Carroll pointed out some fixes that would improve the ACA. He also pointed out that the current political system is incapable of acting to pass these fixes. We have an election in a few weeks. Please consider voting for the candidates that would help improve the current health care system and bring wider coverage to the public.

[anuzis]

Just returned to the states after 6 years in Japan. Missing the great national insurance, PPO-style openness, and spending less than $100 on an MRI. Looking forward to voting for a similar system in the U.S. at every opportunity possible.

[Kenadian]

There's one reason and one reason only for all the problems in your healthcare system. Profits. Go single payer or government run system, and you'll get better care for less money. This isn't fucking hard America.

[phxtonash]

I was born with asthma there for was never allowed insurance. now I get my inhalers for $3.60 instead of $60 & $500 each.

[djbslectures]

My takeaway: "Ah, it's not gonna happen"

[Roll]

My health insurance improved dramatically after the ACA. I really hope it's expanded so everyone can benefit as I have. Or, of course, single payer would also work fine, though I doubt we'll ever be that blessed.

[TheRealE.B.]

I thought the entire point of the ACA WAS to bring healthier individuals (young people who can't afford insurance) into the risk pool.

[Jearhby]

It would be great if there were sources for this information...

[Sporkredfox]

"Alaska, Alabama, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wyoming" have no choice. All but Alaska didn't expand medicaid. Connection?

[ZombieX]

What was the last time we went with a public option? Oh yeah... the Post Office. Which then made it illegal compete with it.

[georgecataloni]

I expect the worst, therefore every policy is good, right? No, that's not how it works lol. If you expected costs to go up more, but it only went up a little, that's still bad; we need a new system.

[helenwoodward]

One thing seems to be a lack of health individuals. My understanding is that there is a disproportionate number of people with existing health problems getting their insurance from the exchanges as opposed to an employer. Would it be likely to improve the options in the exchange if a greater segment of the population had to use the exchanges instead of getting insurance through their employer?

[ZombieX]

Repealing the ACA and returning to the status quo wouldn't help. But repealing the ACA and opening up those state borders to competition WOULD.

[BenVoyant]

well that just sounds pretty depressing

[helloworldstein]

"Here are all these data backed solutions but our politicians are too idiotic and too busy bickering to implement them" That's depressing.

[TrabberShir]

Claiming "studies show" without citing any studies at all regarding a politically sensitive topic is bad form in general, it is especially bad form for a channel that has built it's brand by citing it's research. Considering I can hop over to the Cato blog and get a half dozen reputable studies that demonstrate the medicaid expansion has the opposite affects of what you claim I have to question how impartial you are being on the topic of insurance.