Final answer:
Care services not generally covered under publicly funded health care in the U.S. include prescription drugs, medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses, eye care, and some hospital services. Individuals may require private insurance or pay out-of-pocket for these services.
Step-by-step explanation:
Healthcare coverage in the U.S. can be divided into public and private sectors, with each having different scopes of coverage. Services generally not covered under the publicly funded health care system often include prescription drugs, medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses and eye care, and sometimes certain hospital services. Comprehensive coverage may require supplemental private insurance or out-of-pocket payment for these types of care services.
For many people, especially prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the high costs of health care and a lack of insurance resulted in limited access to medical facilities, sometimes forcing them to seek care in emergency rooms where hospitals are required by federal law to provide medical care regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
The challenge for the U.S. healthcare system, and indeed for systems around the world, is to find the right balance between providing high-quality care, ensuring access for all, and maintaining manageable costs.