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Health is something we all take for granted until we become ill. With the costs of health care climbing higher than inflation, it is causing a great amount of uncertainty. As we age, most of us try to plan for retirement. However, planning for health care is something we should do. While most of us enjoy longevity to a greater degree than previous generations, the chances of developing a chronic condition is also there. With that in mind, look at where the health care system started and were it is going is vital to making informed decisions.

Medicare, Medicaid and Me

Back in 1967 Medicare and Medicaid came into law. Both of these programs were designed to help offset the costs of medical care. However, it was not all inclusive so people with conditions that were not covered either had to pay out of pocket, or have medical insurance to cover it.

Proposed Universal Health Care

There is debate for having universal health care much like those in Canada and in Great Britain. The process would be all Americans would have equal access to health care on a triage basis. This means that those with the most medically urgent cases would see a physician first. However, to fund this a large amount of money would have to be allocated from tax revenue. There are many proponents for and against this program however it has not be enacted into law.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

This law came into effect in 2010 and has staggered measures that come into force each year moving forward. One of the most significant changes from this act is it mandates private insurers to offer insurance to clients with preexisting conditions. This helps many Americans who were discriminated against because they had a condition that some insurers did not want to cover.