By NextBestFitWho's affected
Each group links to the problems that hurt it or that it gains from. A path's winners and losers are worked out from these links, so each group is described once. Open a group to see how it fares under your mix of paths.
- Uninsured people
People with no health coverage, who pay for care themselves or go without.
4 linked problems - People with employer coverage
Workers and their families insured through a job. Many like their plans, and they are usually seen fastest today.
11 linked problems - People whose job, income, or home changes
People who change or lose jobs, start businesses, retire early, cut hours, or have incomes that rise and fall, and so move between coverage types.
2 linked problems - People with ongoing or specialist care needs
People with chronic conditions, disabilities, or serious illness, who meet networks, prior authorization, and denials most often.
33 linked problems - Low- and middle-income households
Households for whom a flat premium is a large share of pay.
12 linked problems - High earners
Households for whom a flat premium is a small share of pay, and who pay more under income-based taxes.
3 linked problems - Employers
Businesses that buy coverage for workers today, and those that don't.
9 linked problems - Health insurers, brokers, and their shareholders
Companies that sell, administer, and broker private coverage.
20 linked problems - Insurance and billing workers
People whose jobs exist to sell coverage, process claims, or manage billing between providers and many payers.
3 linked problems - Doctors, nurses, and other clinicians
People who deliver care and spend part of their time on billing and insurer rules.
12 linked problems - Hospitals and specialist groups with high private prices
Providers that charge private insurers far more than public payers, including out-of-network specialty groups.
5 linked problems - Drug and device makers
Manufacturers whose products a payer can cover, price, or decline.
8 linked problems - State governments
States that run and co-fund Medicaid and CHIP today.
1 linked problem - Taxpayers and public budgets
Everyone who funds public programs, and the budgets that pay for them.
24 linked problems - People with unaffordable deductibles or coinsurance
Insured people face cost sharing that makes care difficult to afford.
6 linked problems - Immigrants and mixed-status families
Immigrants and their families face coverage eligibility restrictions and gaps.
3 linked problems - Residents of U.S. territories
People living in United States territories depend on territorial health coverage and services.
1 linked problem - Territory governments
Territorial governments administer health programs subject to federal funding limits.
1 linked problem - Hospitals, clinics, and care organizations
Organizations deliver care and manage the revenue, staffing, and facilities needed to provide it.
22 linked problems - Health care executives
Executives manage health care organizations and receive compensation from them.
2 linked problems - Health financing intermediaries and lenders
Businesses administer health savings accounts, arrange health financing, or lend for medical education.
2 linked problems - Medical debt collectors and buyers
Businesses collect or purchase unpaid medical bills.
1 linked problem - Health administration and software vendors
Businesses supply billing, coding, eligibility, utilization management, and health record systems.
6 linked problems - Medicare beneficiaries
People enrolled in Medicare depend on its coverage and pay its premiums.
1 linked problem - Pharmacy benefit managers and their pharmacies
Businesses manage prescription benefits and operate affiliated mail and specialty pharmacies.
3 linked problems - Community pharmacies
Local pharmacies dispense medicines and depend on prescription reimbursement.
1 linked problem - Private equity firms and investors
Investment firms own or finance health care businesses for financial returns.
2 linked problems - Older and disabled people needing long-term care
People needing ongoing help with daily activities depend on home care or residential facilities.
4 linked problems - People who will need care in the future
People may need future treatments and benefit from prevention and medical research.
2 linked problems - People needing emergency or trauma care
People with urgent conditions depend on timely emergency treatment and transport.
2 linked problems - Rural residents
People in rural communities depend on local health services and face geographic access barriers.
6 linked problems - Older adults
Older people depend on accessible care and coverage for age-related health needs.
4 linked problems - Pregnant and postpartum people and infants
People during pregnancy and after birth and their infants depend on maternity and newborn care.
3 linked problems - Residents of areas with too few health professionals
People in shortage areas have limited access to local clinicians and services.
6 linked problems - Private ambulance operators
Businesses provide emergency transport and bill for ambulance services.
1 linked problem - Specialist clinicians and practices
Clinicians and practices provide specialty services whose payment and competition affect their work.
2 linked problems - Health profession students and trainees
Students and trainees prepare for clinical careers while facing education costs and training limits.
1 linked problem - Health care staffing agencies
Businesses supply temporary clinical and direct-care staff to care organizations.
2 linked problems - Black, Hispanic, and Native communities
Communities experience racial differences in health access and outcomes.
3 linked problems - Malpractice insurers and attorneys
Insurers and attorneys handle medical liability coverage and litigation.
1 linked problem - Fraudulent operators and cybercriminals
Actors exploit health payments or information systems for illicit gain.
4 linked problems - People needing mental health care
People with mental health conditions depend on accessible behavioral health treatment.
2 linked problems - Family caregivers and affected families
Families provide unpaid care or support relatives facing illness and treatment needs.
4 linked problems - People with substance use disorders and affected communities
People using drugs and their communities face addiction harms and barriers to treatment.
1 linked problem - Elder-law planners
Legal advisers help families plan for long-term care eligibility and expenses.
1 linked problem - People experiencing homelessness
People without stable housing face social needs that health systems struggle to address.
1 linked problem - Health data brokers
Businesses trade or market health information.
1 linked problem - People relying on publicly funded care
People depend on public coverage and public care capacity rather than a private alternative.
2 linked problems - Medical researchers and research institutions
Researchers and institutions develop treatments and depend on research priorities and funding.
2 linked problems - Cash-pay and private care practices
Practices earn revenue from privately paid care outside public coverage.
4 linked problems