US Healthcare System Overview

Understanding how the U.S. healthcare system functions is essential for anyone working across market access, policy, or commercialization. This overview explains how a non‑universal, mixed financing model brings together private insurance, employer-sponsored coverage, and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. It clarifies how money flows through the system, how providers are paid, and why costs, access, and incentives vary by setting and population.

The content also connects regulation to real-world outcomes, outlining how drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics move from FDA approval to pricing, coverage, and reimbursement decisions. Key legislation — including the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act — is placed in context to show its impact on coverage expansion, drug pricing, and patient affordability. Designed as both a primer and a reference, this resource supports more informed decision-making across healthcare strategy, policy analysis, and evidence generation.

Explore the full asset for detailed frameworks, visuals, and examples.