Every person in the class, in one way or another, has interacted with the healthcare system. With the growing inequality in America and the large proportion of uninsured Americans, chances are that everyone knows someone that has been adversely affected by not having health insurance or by having a health insurance plan that is overly burdensome. And despite this fact, there has not been much conversation and initiative on the Berkeley campus surrounding healthcare issues.
Much of what this class is designed to do is to provide a broad perspective of the most pressing issues in healthcare. Whether you are a prospective politician, doctor, public health professional, economist, or someone who will utilize healthcare in the future, this class will teach the fundamentals of healthcare policies in the United States and around the world and give you the tools to navigate the healthcare system yourself. This class will also help you make more informed decisions when voting and effectively debate issues regarding healthcare policy. This will be accomplished through lectures, activities, and debates about the topics.