Karen Davis Quotes on Health (6 Quotes)

In the near future, our nation faces the daunting challenge of meeting the needs of growing numbers of older Americans including baby boomers nearing retirement age for nursing home, home health, and assisted living care. Healthcare leaders support strategies to spread these costs widely, rather than place the entire burden on individuals or families.

The jump in uninsured among those with modest incomes is alarming, particularly at a time when our economy has been improving. If we don't act soon to expand coverage to the uninsured, the health of the U.S. population, the productivity of our workforce, and our economy are at risk.

The Medicare drug benefit is a potentially important benefit for many of our most vulnerable Americans, particularly patients with low incomes, who are in poor health. It will be important to monitor whether low-income nursing home residents qualify for premium and cost-sharing subsidies.

Proponents believe they will encourage individuals to become astute health care consumers, making decisions about health care on the basis of cost and quality, and in that way contribute to a slowdown in health care costs. Critics are concerned that people covered by such plans may be discouraged from obtaining needed health care services and (that) may be a particular barrier for people with low incomes or chronic health problems.

We as a nation lose if workers aren't healthy, ... It's an investment in workers' health and productivity to make sure they get the medical care they need.

These findings provide evidence that high-deductible and consumer-driven plans may undermine the two basic purposes of health insurance to reduce financial barriers to needed care and protect against high out-of-pocket cost burdens for patients.