Which of the following are major government payers?

• A. Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP
• B. Private insurance
• C. Employer plans
• D. Out-of-pocket payments

Answer: (A)

Understanding who pays for care helps you see how health systems are funded. Major government payers are programs run or funded by the government that cover a large share of medical costs. Medicare and Medicaid are the two biggest federal programs (Medicare for seniors and some younger people with disabilities, Medicaid for low-income individuals and families). CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program, is a government program that extends coverage to uninsured children in families with limited income. Together, these programs account for a large portion of healthcare payments in the U.S.

Private options, like private insurance and employer-sponsored plans, are funded and administered by private entities, not the government. Out-of-pocket payments are amounts paid directly by patients. So the combination of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP best fits the idea of major government payers.