Readers of this chapter will be able to:

1. Appreciate the challenges for people who are poor
2. Understand what social welfare policy is, what poverty is, and what programs exist to address people in need
3. Describe the role of history, politics, and public opinion on social welfare and entitlement programs including TANF and Social Security
4. Understand the role of governmental programs and private insurance in providing health care in this country
5. Describe the role of history, politics, and public opinion on the development of private health insurance and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid
6. Identify major laws that shape US social welfare and healthcare policies
7. Identify multiple actors in social welfare and health-care policy arenas
8. Discuss persistent and emerging issues in reducing poverty and providing affordable health care, including efforts to address the pandemic