Looking Ahead: Paving the Way for a Better System of Health

As we begin this new year, I’m reflecting on the state of our health care system. We are on the cusp of an amazing era in health care. Artificial intelligence, genomics, precision medicine and other emerging technologies are pushing the industry toward medical breakthroughs that felt like science fiction only a few years ago. Yet there are so many pressing questions. Will these innovations make health care even more expensive? Will they make care inaccessible and widen already unconscionable inequities? Will they heal the mind as well as the body?  

These are questions we, as a society, need to answer. And they are questions the Blues are working hard to address. 

Making Health Care More Affordable 

In 2023, the average cost of employer-provided health insurance for family coverage was more than $23,000. That’s one-third of an average family’s household income. What’s more, that cost has grown so quickly, it's nearly three times higher than in 2001. If we don’t find a way to slow the growth of health care costs in America, more people won’t be able to afford health insurance, or any kind of health care at all.  

This is a fundamental issue, and we believe we can solve it in partnership with policymakers and other stakeholders. The Blues are advocating for commonsense solutions that will deliver real impact by reducing health care costs by $767 billion over 10 years: 

• Improving competition among health care providers while also protecting patients by ensuring they’re not being overcharged for a medical service delivered in a hospital—when that exact same service would cost two to three times less in a doctor’s office. 
• Increasing access to lower-cost, equally effective prescription drugs by asking Congress to make it easier for patients to have access to generic and biosimilar medicines—which cost less and are just as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. The Blues are also taking action, partnering with Civica and launching Synergie Medication Collective to bring lower-cost drugs to market. 
• Ensuring patients receive the highest-quality health care at the right place and the right time by transitioning away from fee-for-service payment models to ones that reward and reimburse providers for delivering safe, high-quality care and by promoting telehealth, data exchange and interoperability.  

Building a More Equitable System of Health 

Time and time again, studies have shown unconscionable racial and ethnic health disparities in America. These disparities span education levels, socioeconomic status, age and geography—pointing to deeper-seated issues like underlying chronic conditions, racial inequities and bias within the health care system that must be addressed systemically. There are far too many examples, but here are just a few:   

• Black women in the United States have maternal death rates three times higher than white women—regardless of their socioeconomic status or education level. 
• Hispanic Americans often suffer from a lack of access to health insurance coverage, health care facilities in their communities and providers who understand their language. 
• Asian Americans, the only racial/ethnic group in the U.S. for whom cancer is the leading cause of death, have lower cancer screening rates than white Americans, according to several studies.  

While the reasons for these disparities are complex, the implications are clear: We must do better. That’s why the Blues continue to prioritize our National Health Equity Strategy to help ensure every American has access to high-quality, equitable care. Through this work we are focused on reducing disparities in maternal health by taking action:   

• Approach to Care. We continue to call for 10 commonsense actions by providers, insurers, policymakers and private sector organizations, such as adding nurse-midwives and birthing centers to provider networks and unconscious bias training for everyone in the maternal care continuum.  
• Public Policy. We advocate for policies focused on delivering equitable care, like the Momnibus package and extending Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months—which can positively impact the 43% of all U.S. births covered through Medicaid.  
• Data Collection. We are using claims data to identify trends and root causes of disparities and spotlight best practices in maternal health. And we have created a coalition with 18 partner organizations to advocate for standardized race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and gender identity data collection, so we can help improve outcomes for everyone. 
• Communities. The Blues partner with community organizations to address the social determinants of health that are so critical to making new motherhood safe and healthy.  

Filling in the Gaps in Youth Mental Health 

Since 2011, mental health-related visits to emergency rooms by young people have soared, and suicide-related visits to ERs have risen five-fold. Adolescents reporting major depression are up by more than 60 percent. More and more teenagers are being treated for anxiety, mood disorders and self-harm.  

The Blues have 250 initiatives across the country that are expanding mental health support for five million young people. We’re trying to meet young people where they are—and where they need us. Last year, we announced a four-year partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that will train 48,000 staff members at 5,200 clubs to be trauma-informed to better support the emotional and mental well-being of over 3.6 million children. 

Overall, tackling the youth mental health crisis requires a concerted effort from many stakeholders, including parents, schools, policymakers and community groups. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to being part of the solution, to support children and teens as they grow into adulthood.  

The Future of Health Care 

There is so much complexity in the health care system, and, too often, a lack of willingness to overcome differences and make compromises. But from listening to the 118 million people we serve across the country and the 2 million providers we work with, I believe there is a powerful desire to make health care better.  

The challenges I have mentioned, from spiraling health care costs to racial inequities to the lack of mental health resources, are difficult to solve. But we must solve them.  

I believe we can answer the open questions in front of us and create a future where health care is more affordable, accessible and equitable for everyone, and where we focus on both our minds and our bodies. I look forward to the work and progress we will make together in 2024. By taking action, we can—and will—create a better system of health for all.