I plan to explore the adoption and expansion of private employer-based health insurance, and the passage of Titles 18 and 19 (Medicare and Medicaid). We shall then explore past failed attempts to adopt universal health insurance coverage and battle around the ACA. We then will examine so-called “Medicare-for-All” bills languishing in Congress.

During the course we shall discuss the powerful forces aligned against government-sponsored health insurance while at the same time Federal and State governments continue to pay for more and more care. We shall look at Medicaid expansion authorized under the ACA, and the “red-blue” divide over expansion and the many futile attempts by Republicans to repeal Obamacare.

Finally, we shall study the expansion of private insurers contracting with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and how Part C/Medicare Advantage plans are a model for future universal coverage.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.

There are no required books for this course.