Despite implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, the U.S. health care crisis continues. While coverage has been expanded, 28 million people remain uninsured, and tens of millions who have coverage are unable to afford care because of high cost-sharing requirements. Moreover, many with coverage have a sharply restricted choice of physicians and hospitals, and the corporate takeover of medical care in the United States is proceeding rapidly. This article provides a brief précis of recent data on U.S. health policy.
Keywords: Affordable Care Act; Medicaid; Medicare; Medicare Advantage; Medicare for all; Veterans Administration; electronic medical records; health care costs; health care crisis; health care reform; inequality; private health insurance; single payer; underinsured; uninsured.