Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options
CDC Home
CDC Vital Signs

Access to Health Care

What Can Be Done

Icon: U.S. flag

The Affordable Care Act:

  • Is projected to extend health insurance for up to 94% of people below 65 years old (an additional 32 million people) by 2019.
  • Can reduce skipped or delayed care because people are less likely to have gaps in insurance.
  • Requires insurance plans to cover and not charge co-payments for effective preventive services. Greater use of these services could save 100,000 lives each year.
Icon: People

Everyone can:

  • Get healthy. Eat less sugar, salt and saturated fats and more fruits and vegetables. Walk 30 minutes a day. Quit smoking, or don't start.
  • Stay healthy. Take any medicines your doctor has prescribed. Talk to your doctor about medication programs that help people with low incomes if you can't afford your medicine.
  • Sign up for health insurance. Even if you have a pre-existing condition, health insurance is now available in some states.
  • Go see your main health care provider. Your primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can make sure that you are up-to-date with preventive services such as immunizations, as well as cholesterol, mental health, and cancer screenings. Also, they can help prevent costly and disabling complications such as strokes and heart attacks.
  • Find your options for health care you can receive right now. See http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/index.html and http://www.healthcare.gov.
Icon: Employers

Employers can:

  • Provide comprehensive wellness programs for employees that include physical activity and other wellness measures.
  • Provide options that make health insurance and health care easier to afford for employees. These options should include basic primary care and prevention.
Icon: Healthcare providers

Health care providers can:

  • Include at least some preventive care at each patient visit.
  • Support the use of retail sites, schools, churches, and community centers to make it more convenient for people to get basic primary care and prevention, including vaccinations.
Icon: Health plan

Health insurance plans can:

  • Promote healthy diet and physical activity for their enrollees. Adults who are overweight or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes are more likely to have higher health care costs.
  • Provide basic primary care and prevention services in more convenient locations such as retail sites, schools, churches, and community centers.

Previous Page Next Page: Social Media

Pages in this Issue
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. [5]
  6. 6

 

 
CDC 24/7 – Saving Lives. Protecting People. Saving Money Through Prevention. Learn More About How CDC Works For You…
Contact Us:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    1600 Clifton Rd
    Atlanta, GA 30333
  • 800-CDC-INFO
    (800-232-4636)
    TTY: (888) 232-6348
  • cdcinfo@cdc.gov
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
A-Z Index
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z
  27. #