There is considerable evidence that societies that spend more on social services - housing, income support, food, transportation, built environment, community safety - spend less on health care, all other things equal. Why might this be true? After spending so much on social services, there is simply less to go around for health care. a. Much of health care spending occurs because people are lonely and desperate for someone to talk to, and health professional have to let them in *the door. Ob. c. The "finding" is an illusion, some countries mask health spending within the social sector and vice versa. Od. Stronger social environments enable people to be healthier and more resilient without health system intervention.

New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and described a possible adverse selection cascade: “the young may decide en masse that it is completely irrational for them to get health insurance that subsidizes others.”   a.  Why might it be irrational for young and healthy people to buy health insurance?   b.  In what sense do young and healthy people who buy health insurance provide a subsidy to people who are older or who are ill?   c.  What do you think Brooks meant by an adverse selection cascade? How might the actions of young and healthy people contribute to adverse selection problems in the health insurance system?

How would functionalists, conflict theorists and symbolic interactionists suggest that health care delivery might be improved in the USA?

Different reimbursement approaches/strategies involve more or less risk for health care providers and for health insurance companies. Which approaches/strategies involve the most risk for health are providers? Which approaches/strategies involve the most risk for health insurance companies? Explain “why” in each of your answers, and make sure you define all relevant terms and concepts

i.  i.   Distinguish between the medical definition of heath and the economic definition of health.     ii.  Which definition you like better? Explain.