I’m healthy now, but what if
I get sick? Will I have a choice of doctors and treatment plans? Will I
be able to afford care?
What about my parents, who are
retired? They have Medicare, but they have a tough time paying for prescription
drugs. What happens if one of them gets really sick and needs to go into
a nursing home?
How can I be sure about the quality
of care in my local hospital?
I have a strong family history
of breast cancer, and my doctor says I should consider a genetic test.
But who has access to my test results, and, if I test positive, who gets
to see my results? Will that affect my health insurance?
These questions, and others like them, are asked by millions
of Americans who have watched the changing health care scene over the last
decade. The answers influence the lives and well being of health care consumers
and patients. We are all affected by critical health care decisions, policies,
and plans that are made by the government, by employers, by health care
professionals, and by private health care businesses. As a consumer, you
too have an important role in determining health policy.
What
Is Health Policy?
