Final answer:
Government involvement in health care is necessary to regulate medical professionals, ensure equal access to health care, and control the prices set by pharmaceutical companies. Programs like Medicare and Medicaid exemplify the government's role in providing health care, and legislation like the Affordable Care Act has sought to mandate health insurance coverage and manage healthcare costs. the correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Government involvement is crucial in health care for several vital reasons. Primarily, the government plays a significant role in regulating medical professionals to ensure that the care provided meets established standards and is safe for patients. Moreover, it acts to ensure equal access to healthcare, so that all individuals, regardless of income or social status, have the opportunity to receive necessary medical services. This is particularly important for vulnerable populations who may otherwise be unable to afford health care. The government also aims to control pharmaceutical companies, thus attempting to prevent exorbitant pricing of medication and ensuring that essential drugs are available at reasonable prices.
In the United States, the government provides health insurance programs like Medicare for individuals over 65 years old and Medicaid for low-income families, funded through taxes. Moreover, through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, the government has taken measures such as the individual mandate to require that everyone acquire some form of health insurance and imposed controls to lower the overall costs of healthcare. These efforts are directed towards increasing the quality of health care while trying to make it affordable and accessible to as many people as possible, and thus, to increase employment in the healthcare sector as well.