{"id":682652,"date":"2024-05-28T20:58:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T00:58:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-02-05T15:37:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:37:14","slug":"health-policy-101-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/other-health\/health-policy-101-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Policy 101 Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n\tclass=\"no-sidebar wp-block-kff-shared-content--blank-slate wp-block-kff-shared-content\">\n\t\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-content-main\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-shared-content-main__content__inner\">\n\t\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#004b87;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\" id=\"content\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2280\" height=\"651\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-620520\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:1280px;height:366px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg 2280w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg?resize=768,219 768w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg?resize=1024,292 1024w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg?resize=1536,439 1536w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/05\/KFF_SF_Office_Timeline_Norman_22.jpg?resize=2048,585 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--d-7);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--d-7)\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-neutral-100-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0ec230d511c9084ba528eed979cdef16\" id=\"h-kff-s-health-policy-101\">KFF&#8217;s Health Policy 101<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8b913b13 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-neutral-100-color has-text-color has-link-color has-heading-6-font-size wp-elements-dc36ce6e6c030028651f0674c54424d9 wp-block-paragraph\">Edited by&nbsp;Dr. Drew Altman<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-neutral-100-color has-text-color has-link-color has-20-font-size wp-elements-52eee9bfa52228d586f09a44c580e4fb wp-block-paragraph\">Published: October 8, 2025<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f0342b05 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:300px\">\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-html\" style=\"font-size:16px;padding-left:16px;padding-bottom:9px;border-bottom:solid\">Chapters<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"padding:0;border-left:5px solid #e5e5e5\" class=\"fake-content-nav\">\n    <li style=\"color: #333\">\n        <a href=\"#content\"><span>Introduction<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #93509E\">\n        <a href=\"\/medicare\/health-policy-101-medicare\/#content\"><span>Medicare<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #1A7662\">\n        <a href=\"\/medicaid\/health-policy-101-medicaid\/#content\"><span>Medicaid<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #A03E00\">\n        <a href=\"\/affordable-care-act\/health-policy-101-the-affordable-care-act\/#content\"><span>The Affordable Care Act<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #FDC82F\">\n        <a href=\"\/health-costs\/health-policy-101-employer-sponsored-health-insurance\/#content\"><span>Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #CD202C\">\n        <a href=\"\/uninsured\/health-policy-101-the-uninsured-population-and-health-coverage\/#content\"><span>The Uninsured Population and Health Coverage <\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #004B87\">\n        <a href=\"\/health-costs\/health-policy-101-health-care-costs-and-affordability\/#content\"><span>Health Care Costs and Affordability <\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #D74D56\">\n        <a href=\"\/patient-consumer-protections\/health-policy-101-the-regulation-of-private-health-insurance\/#content\"><span>The Regulation of Private Health Insurance<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #58305F\">\n        <a href=\"\/womens-health-policy\/health-policy-101-health-policy-issues-in-womens-health\/#content\"><span>Health Policy Issues in Women\u2019s Health<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #00B588\">\n        <a href=\"\/racial-equity-and-health-policy\/health-policy-101-race-inequality-and-health\/#content\"><span>Race, Inequality, and Health<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n     <li style=\"color: #A973B1\">\n        <a href=\"\/lgbtq\/health-policy-101-lgbtq-health-policy\/#content\"><span>LGBTQ+ Health Policy<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #de9566\">\n        <a href=\"\/other-health\/health-policy-101-u-s-public-health\/#content\"><span>U.S. Public Health<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #CE601A\">\n        <a href=\"\/global-health-policy\/health-policy-101-international-comparison-of-health-systems\/#content\"><span>International Comparison of Health Systems<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #001E36\">\n        <a href=\"\/global-health-policy\/health-policy-101-the-u-s-government-and-global-health\/#content\"><span>The U.S. Government and Global Health<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #1A81D4\">\n        <a href=\"\/public-opinion\/health-policy-101-the-role-of-public-opinion-polls-in-health-policy\/#content\"><span>The Role of Public Opinion Polls in Health Policy<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #1E9D8B\">\n        <a href=\"\/state-health-policy-data\/health-policy-101-congress-and-the-executive-branch-and-health-policy\/#content\"><span>Congress, the Executive Branch, and Health Policy<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li style=\"color: #474747\">\n        <a href=\"\/elections\/health-policy-101-the-politics-of-health-care-and-elections\/\"><span>The Politics of Health Care and Elections<\/span><\/a>\n    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:10px\">\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\">Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/person\/drew-altman\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png?w=600\" alt=\"Photo of Drew Altman\" class=\"wp-image-581242\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:250px;height:250px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png 600w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png?resize=500,500 500w, https:\/\/www.kff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2013\/03\/Altman-Drew-600x600-extend.png?resize=50,50 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have long planned to create an online resource or mini \u201ctextbook\u201d for faculty and students interested in health policy. One of the stumbling blocks is that there is no agreed upon definition of \u201chealth policy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We took a stab at it of sorts at KFF in our headquarters when we created a physical timeline\u2014as shown in the photo above\u2014of the pivotal events in the history of our field, on a wall in our headquarters in San Francisco. But, of course, you can\u2019t all visit our offices to see our health policy history wall, and many of you may have quibbles if you did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For us at KFF, our definition reflects our views and what we do: Health policy centers around, well policy\u2013what the government does, and public programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA, and heavily emphasizes financing and coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also focus relentlessly on people, not health professionals and health care institutions (I have never been fond of the word \u201cprovider\u201d). Others have a more expansive definition and that\u2019s fine. What I ultimately settled on doing is far simpler: Organizing the basic materials we have on the issues we work on, recognizing that they do not represent every topic of interest to the faculty and students we hope to assist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is the following chapters. With the profound and often troubling changes being made now in health policy and in public health, and the proliferation of misinformation about our issues, we are updating chapters in real time. Our organization is built to adapt rapidly to play our role as an independent source of analysis, polling, and journalism on national health issues, and as that happens,&nbsp;we\u2019ll add more content. We\u2019ll also update the \u201c101\u201d at least annually as data and circumstances change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let me know if this is helpful and how it can be improved. You can reach me at&nbsp;<strong>daltman101@kff.org<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"post-footer\">\n\t<div class=\"post-footer__title\">More On<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"post-footer__links\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/affordable-care-act\/\">\n\t\t\t\tAffordable Care Act\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/elections\/\">\n\t\t\t\tElections\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/global-health-policy\/\">\n\t\t\t\tGlobal Health Policy\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/health-costs\/\">\n\t\t\t\tHealth Costs\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/lgbtq\/\">\n\t\t\t\tLGBTQ\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/medicaid\/\">\n\t\t\t\tMedicaid\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/medicare\/\">\n\t\t\t\tMedicare\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/other-health\/\">\n\t\t\t\tOther Health\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/private-insurance\/\">\n\t\t\t\tPrivate Insurance\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/public-opinion\/\">\n\t\t\t\tPublic Opinion\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/racial-equity-and-health-policy\/\">\n\t\t\t\tRacial Equity and Health Policy\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/uninsured\/\">\n\t\t\t\tUninsured\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/topic\/womens-health-policy\/\">\n\t\t\t\tWomen&#039;s Health Policy\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Health Policy 101 is a comprehensive guide covering fundamental aspects of U.S. health policy and programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, employer-sponsored insurance, the uninsured population, health care costs and affordability, women&#8217;s health issues, and health care politics. It includes overviews of private health insurance regulation, racial and ethnic disparities, public health, international comparison of health systems, U.S.  global health policy, and the federal role in health policy.   The chapters can be downloaded in a PDF format for faculty and student use, and the information will be updated annually or as data and circumstances change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155412888,"featured_media":623177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"authors":[],"exhibits":[],"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","hide_from_search":false,"show_featured_image":false,"subheading":"","tag":"","search_keywords":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"shortlink":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3962798,31174,21680097,1274092,417697712,140023,69737,1035,1286878,63719,151977897,643869,7803651],"tags":[],"content-types":[579145486],"program":[],"series":[579145504],"partner":[],"class_list":["post-682652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-affordable-care-act","category-elections","category-global-health-policy","category-health-costs","category-lgbtq","category-medicaid","category-medicare","category-other-health","category-private-insurance","category-public-opinion","category-racial-equity-and-health-policy","category-uninsured","category-womens-health-policy","content-types-feature","series-health-policy-101"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Health Policy 101 Introduction | KFF<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Health Policy 101 is a comprehensive guide covering fundamental aspects of U.S. health policy and programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, employer-sponsored insurance, the uninsured population, health care costs and affordability, women&#039;s health issues, and health care politics. 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