If It Ain’t Broke, Use It: Expanding Public Programs in Health Reform

Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.
Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.
Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.Public health insurance programs—notably Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—have evolved to insure people with the greatest health needs or the least resources. These programs cover one out of every four Americans, including the elderly and the disabled under Medicare; low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled under Medicaid; and low-income children and parents under SCHIP. The federal government also provides health benefits to federal employees, American Indians and Alaska Natives, military personnel, and veterans, while state and local government manage health benefit programs for their employees and some low-income populations.