Final answer:
The US government supplies public health services because private companies may not provide necessary, unprofitable health care to all, especially low-income and elderly individuals. The government's involvement includes running Medicaid and Medicare to ensure accessible health coverage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The US government provides most public health services because private health insurance can be too expensive and market failures in healthcare often require government intervention.
Particularly, the government runs programs like Medicaid, which offers health care to individuals with low incomes, and Medicare, providing health insurance to those over age 65. Health policy in the United States includes substantial government roles not only in financing but also in regulatory aspects to ensure accessible health coverage for various segments, including the elderly, low-income families, military veterans, and children in families with relatively low incomes.
Private companies are not necessarily unable to provide such services; they tend to focus on profit-making endeavors. As a result, sectors that are not profitable but socially necessary, like ensuring the health of low-income or elderly populations, might be underserved. The government steps in to remedy this, offering healthcare programs to cover these gaps and uphold public well-being, which is integral for economic productivity and social stability.