Economic and Political Factors
In the past, economic and political forces largely shaped health insurance and managed care. Over time, funding healthcare insurance proved to be financially beneficial to ordinary people, hospitals, and employers. Insurance was a means of supporting the hospital’s income or helping employers avoid taxes (Lichtenstein, 2022). The government was interested in creating a nationalized healthcare system, but for decades, different political forces protested against this idea, insisting on developing a commercial insurance system (Lichtenstein, 2022).
As the cost of healthcare rose, the government began to look for ways to make healthcare more affordable for consumers. To this end, the government implemented policies encouraging the development of health insurance plans. These policies included the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the passage of the Affordable Care Act (Lichtenstein, 2022). They helped make health insurance and care more accessible to a larger portion of the population, exceeding the number of people who had health insurance.
Social Drivers
In addition to economic and political forces, social factors have also played an essential role in shaping health insurance. As the significance of preventive care has become more apparent, the need to make healthcare more accessible has increased (Shi & Singh, 2022). This rise in demand has prompted the development of new plans and services, including health savings accounts and high-deductible plans. These changes have made insurance and care more attractive to consumers.
Technological Influences
Today, the forces influencing health insurance and managed care are primarily technological. Technology has enabled new ways to access and manage healthcare, including telemedicine, mobile applications, and other digital tools (Shi & Singh, 2022). Additionally, advances in data analytics have enabled providers to understand their patients’ needs and tailor their services accordingly. These changes have made healthcare more efficient and accessible, allowing insurance companies to assess risk more accurately and adjust premiums accordingly.
Consumer Demands
Ultimately, consumer demand is also influencing the development of health insurance. As consumers become increasingly aware of the importance of preventive care and the rising costs of healthcare, they are demanding more cost-effective and consumer-friendly plans (Shi & Singh, 2022). This has led to the growth of consumer-directed health plans, such as high-deductible plans and health savings accounts, which allow consumers to control their healthcare costs.
Summary
In summary, economic, political, social, technological, and consumer-driven forces have affected health insurance and managed care. These forces have enabled the development of new plans and services that have helped to make healthcare more affordable for a larger portion of the population. In the future, these forces are likely to continue shaping the healthcare and insurance industries as providers strive to meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers.
References
Lichtenstein, E. (2022). The history of health insurance: Past, present, and future. AgentSync. Web.
Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2022). Essentials of the U.S. health care system [E-book edition]. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Web.