Using Current Issues to Fuel Class Discussions on Financing the Health Care System

1. Real-World Case Studies

Using current events as case studies allows students to analyze the implications of health care financing in real-time. For instance, recent debates surrounding the Affordable Care Act or the impact of COVID-19 on health care spending can be dissected to understand how policy decisions affect access and affordability. By examining these cases, students can explore the balance between public and private funding and the ethical implications of health care access.

2. Impact of Economic Trends

The economy significantly influences health care financing. Recent inflation trends, job market fluctuations, and changes in government spending can provide a backdrop for discussions on how economic conditions affect health care funding. Encourage students to research how these economic factors influence public health initiatives, insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket costs for patients.

3. Global Perspectives

Health care financing is a global issue. Current discussions around universal health coverage, disparities in health care access, and the financial burdens faced by different countries can lead to fruitful debates. Comparing the health care systems of various countries, such as the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., can highlight different financing models and their outcomes, prompting students to think critically about what system might work best in their own context.

4. Technological Advances and Costs

The rise of telemedicine and advancements in medical technology present both opportunities and challenges for health care financing. Discussing current innovations can lead to discussions about their cost implications and the potential for improving or complicating access to care. Students can explore questions like: How do these technologies change the economics of health care delivery? Are they making health care more accessible or exacerbating existing inequities?

5. Policy Proposals and Debates

Bringing in current policy proposals, such as those for Medicare for All or changes to Medicaid, can ignite discussions about the future of health care financing. Students can evaluate the pros and cons of different proposals, consider political implications, and reflect on the values that underpin various approaches to health care funding.

In Jonas’ Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System, one of the learning objectives for your students is to describe the categories of health care expenditures and the percentage allocated to each. The text notes that health care spending in the United States has risen every year since 1960, both in absolute terms and per capita, as well as relative to GDP. In 2021, national health expenditures totaled approximately $4,255 billion, accounting for 18.3% of GDP, and reaching $12,914 per capita. This level of spending has been reached after decades of growth; for instance, per capita spending—unadjusted for inflation—was just $146 in 1960, compared to $12,914 in 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the buying power of $146 in 1960 is equivalent to about $1,207 when adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI; U.S. Department of Labor, BLS, 2019; see Figure 6.1).