Healthcare Policy
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American Military University *
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410
Subject
Medicine
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
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Coast of Healthcare in The United States
American Public University POLS410: Public Policy
Professor Kimberly Cheiken
31 December 2023
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To:
To The Governor of Florida
From:
State Policy Advisor
Subject:
Reducing the Cost of Healthcare
Date:
31 December 2023
The Beginning of Healthcare
Healthcare is a system that provides full or half coverage to people who may need health
coverage from licensed medical personnel, whether it's physical, mental, or emotional well-being
(Merriam). President John Adams, the second President of the United States, signed the first Federal health law on 16 July 1798. The Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen law was
to help seaman seek medical attention at American ports for twenty cents a month. The twenty cents helped provide seamen medical attention and build hospitals for them, and this was the first
prepaid medical care in the United States. Healthcare costs have risen throughout the years. It is a topic you may have seen in newspapers, television commercials, or social media. The challenge that the people of the United States face is how to afford healthcare. Mainly, low-
income families are affected by the cost of healthcare. High-income families may pay up to sixteen percent of their income for healthcare, while low-income families may pay thirty-three percent for healthcare (RAND, 2020). In 1970, a total cost of $74.1 billion in healthcare by 2000, it reached around $1.4 trillion; in 2022, the cost of healthcare tripled to $4.5 trillion. During the first year of COVID-19, from 2019 to 2020, it had increased by 10.6%. It continued to increase by 4.1% from 2021 to 2022. The increase made it harder to afford for families because most jobs required being around people, making it hard to have social distancing. Unlike other jobs, such as office jobs, they could work from home.
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The purpose of this policy is to prioritize the reduction of healthcare. However, the price of healthcare is different in each state in the United States. In states where healthcare is affordable, such as Michigan, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii, and New Mexico, people will seek medical attention with no hesitation, unlike Florida, which ranks fourth as one of the states with the most expensive healthcare, 14.87% of adults did not see a doctor due to the cost (Masterson, 2023).
Cost of Healthcare in Florida
Technology and medicine have evolved over the years, which is one of many reasons healthcare can be expensive. In the state of Florida, employers are not covering employees' healthcare. A study from The Commonwealth Fund stated that people struggle to pay for healthcare: they must determine where to take it from, such as buying fewer groceries, living in a
different house, or delaying education (McGough, 2022). In Miami, private health insurance offered by companies, premiums healthcare for workers could go up to five to twenty percent. The reasons for the jump is due to inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Van Horn Law Group, which has 30 workers, employees have experienced ten to fifteen percent increases in their healthcare annually for the past few years (CBS).
This year, the Silver Plan's monthly healthcare cost for those aged 40 is $613.00. We are already expecting a 2% raise in healthcare to go up next year, in 2024. Floridians have five tiers of healthcare: catastrophic, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. They all have their pros and cons.
Pros and Cons for Tiers of Healthcare Plan
Catastrophic and bronze plans are affordable and best for people who don't seek medical attention and may be in good health. The downfall of this plan is Floridians must pay a large portion of their health care bills if they have a severe illness or injury.
The average monthly cost for the catastrophic plan for the following ages is:
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Age 21- Monthly fee $245
Age 40- Monthly fee $313
Age 60- Monthly $664
This plan has a $9,450 deductible and a $9,450 out-of-pocket maximum.
For 2024, there will be a -5% increase in the monthly cost (
Deventer, 2023)
.
The average monthly cost for the bronze plan for the following ages is:
Age 21- Monthly fee $399
Age 40- Monthly fee $510
Age 60- Monthly fee $1,084
This plan has a $7,500 deductible and a $9,400 out-of-pocket maximum.
For 2024, there will be a 6% change to the monthly cost (
Deventer, 2023)
.
The silver plan is best for average medical needs; it is affordable and has a good average. Floridians still need to pay a small portion of their medical bills. The average monthly cost for the silver plan for the following ages is:
Age 21- Monthly fee $480
Age 40- Monthly fee $613
Age 60- Monthly fee $1,302
This plan has a $5,900 deductible and a $9,100 out-of-pocket maximum.
For 2024, there will be a 2% change to the monthly cost (
Deventer, 2023)
.
The gold and platinum plans are best for complex medical needs like severe or chronic conditions. This plan costs more but can save you money on expensive treatment or treatments. The average monthly cost for the gold plan for the following ages are:
Age 21- Monthly fee $522
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