Three Legged Stool: Shaky or Stable? - U.S. Public Health Series| Academy 4 Social Change

The three legs of the U.S. healthcare system are access, cost, and quality. Access refers to the ability to acquire and utilize health insurance and health services. The cost of the overall system includes the costs to individuals, providers, employers, insurers, and the government. Quality refers to the degree to which healthcare is adequate and acceptable, and promotes positive health outcomes. Together, these three components create a strong and robust health system where health care is accessible, affordable, and of good quality. When one or more of these legs are weak, the whole system is threatened.

**Find a transcript, lesson plans, worksheets, and more at: https://academy4sc.org/video/three-le...

**Think Further Questions
1. Why might it be hard to address all three legs in a single project or program given how our healthcare system and government work?
2. What are some reforms that would improve two of the legs, but threaten the other?
3. Are there any limitations to this framework?

**Contents
00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - Explanation
00:54 - Definition of Three-Legged Stool
01:25 - How It Works
03:08 - Applying It

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