Health care in the US for Native Americans - what is the Fed's responsibility?

I recently heard something like the Fed gov is responsible for providing health care to federally recognized tribes (American Indians & Alaska natives). There is something called the "Indian Health Service" which provides healthcare for the tribes I just mentioned. It supposedly came from the 1787 constitution and you can review the agency on this page:

www.ihs.gov...

I'd like to know anything possible about this agency, how it works (or doesn't work), what kind of services are provided if there are specific doctors that can only be seen, if there is prescription coverage, etc Also, if anyone has used this service or has any experience or knowledge from friends or family, I would greatly appreciate hearing whatever you have to share. This is to help me do research on the current health care system in the US, especially that which the government has a hand in.

I'm wondering how the quality compares to that of the VA as I've heard both horror stories and also tales of some doctors going above and beyond for their patients. I'd be interested in seeing what the general sentiment is of people who use this service - and also, if those "enrolled" in the program find a need for additional or supplemental insurance for adequate coverage.

edit - also does anyone know of any other programs where the Fed is required to provide health care to another group of people?

a reply to: DigginFoTroof


From what little I know of native Americans, they probably don't want handouts from the US Govt.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

My husband and son are eligible for Indian Healthcare. They generally don't use it, although my son sometimes uses the dental clinic. It's not top tier care, for sure.

I'm not sure how much care they provide in extended illnesses and the like - I think at that point maybe Medicare kicks in?

They have a couple tribal clinics nearby, one which is federally funded and another that is funded by a local tribe. My husband and son can receive services at either place, even though the tribal one isn't their tribe.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

We need to spend more on healthcare and less on the US military.

Is this like reparations?

Thank you for those who provided information. I've heard comments that the services were either not good or they were cumbersome to access. This thread is not to discuss whether they deserve it, why they get it, etc. It is only about finding out experiences or any information related to it.

One reason I want to know how this system works is because I was under the impression that they were supposed to be provided with good/exceptional medical services - that is the understanding I have that the Fed promised in concessions (for and I'm guessing) in the past (or maybe for surrender/etc).

So if we look at this system, that is a federally supplied health care system, can US citizens expect similar treatment if we went to a national health care system? If we look at how Native Americans are treated, even with a legal requirement to provide services, does the Fed follow their law or do they do a poor job in upholding their end of the agreement.?

I would guess a nationalized healthcare system would be some amalgamated hybrid with the current system with the gov sticking their nose in the middle of it (yeeaaaa!!), so I'm looking into this and eventually VA/military health care coverage.

Please keep responses and comments on topic. There's no need to bring military spending into this. Please DO NOT hijack or sidetrack this thread!

The native Americans I know are not happy very much with the present medical system we have. They want to teach their people to start eating properly instead of suffering with health issues. Diabetes is becoming an issue with the Indians and they are trying to persuade their people to start eating more natural now. Doctors seem to want to push pills, they are more into changing the diet so their people do not need medicines.

I did not go to the pow-wow this year, we had something else we had to do this year. But We go to the AAPS conference at the Casino every year and the native Americans are trying to serve better food for us too. They decided to quit with the highly prepared and unnatural foods and are buying more natural stuff and their cooks do a nice job with the meals. There are pies and cakes, but they are all made using more natural ingredients instead of the commercially prepared crap.

Yes it is a little more expensive for the food but you do not feel like crap after eating your meal.

The native Americans are also trying to monitor the health of the people who are going more to a traditional more natural choice, but I know I cannot eat some of the foods that the Native Americans can, my ancestors came from Finland. But they have many choices to choose from at the pow-wow and the conference, so I can find things that I can metabolize properly. They started eating more turkey and fish at the pow-wow, they got the turkeys from a native American who is growing them properly, sort of like the Amish do. The fish is from Lake Superior from one of the Native fishermen usually.

If they get this figured out, it might be good if the rest of us pay attention to the results they are getting and the way they are doing it. They do not get any special funding for their programs either.

That is how I understand it from what I have been told by a few of the higher up Native Americans in our area, they would rather have nobody sick instead of everyone on meds. They do utilize the supplied native American healthcare system but that does not cover everything and not all doctors can take their plan. They have their own special program I think. Most Native Americans do not have health insurance and there are not Tribal services available everywhere, most of the money for these services goes to major areas where Native Americans live.

A native American could probably give way more info on this benefit. I do know quite a few Native Americans and I do not think they have very good healthcare insurance.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

We need to spend more on healthcare and less on the US military.

Throwing money at the healthcare system and Pharma is not going to help our system out, we need to stop all the wasted tests and procedures and meds and get the FDA to do their job regulating the chemicals in our food system. People are so worried about getting sick from food poisoning, they want their food poisoned with chemicals to kill these microbes, but it damages our cells many times in the process.

One thing is for sure, they are as American, as Americans can get.
They deserve our respect and support. After all, they use to own this place...

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

We need to spend more on healthcare and less on the US military.

I would rather they just quit spending on either. It would save a lot of wasted money as government mis-manages both.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

Health care for Native Americans was something forced on us by the US government, actually.

The same concept as government schools on reservations.

We fought that for years... a whole lot of the Hopi leaders were incarcerated at Alcatraz for fighting it, for instance.

That battle got lost years ago and now every Rez has Federal Health care.

If you want to know how that works because America wants Health Care for All, my advice would be simple.

Don't get sick after June because there will not be any money for health care until October.

Health care quality varies between Tribes.

Cherokee health care is a 5 out of 10... meaning 5 out of 10 people die from anything more major than the flu.

Flathead health care is amazing... much better than a Montana hospital.

Navajo health care quality is amazingly bad.

Just depends on the Tribe and how they allocate the money given to them.

originally posted by: charlyv
One thing is for sure, they are as American, as Americans can get.
They deserve our respect and support. After all, they use to own this place...

If Americans felt true remorse, we'd turn the USA back over to the people we stole it from. Right?

a reply to: Lumenari

I've heard this too. I've heard it's worse than the VA if that's possible. I've also heard that if you want an idea how socialized care would work in the US, then you need to get familiar with it.

It sounds like the variations across the tribes are like the postcode lottery from the UK where one postcode might allow a certain treatment or have better care because of how their health care authority is managed and distributes its funds which basically means it's not a whole lot different than public school districts in the US.

So, look around at your public school districts. Sure some are decent, but most suck and some are downright frightful. That begins to give you a clue as to how health care would work at that level. Now consider the endless political battles at all levels over it in terms of funding with teachers' unions, strikes, etc. It would only get worse when everyone's life would be in the hands of the system.

a reply to: DigginFoTroof

I know nothing about the situation except that it exists.

However I think comparing it to whatever system might result from Medicare For All would be a poor comparison.

If the latter comes to pass, hopefully there would be informed and lengthy public discussion as to how it might be designed.

a reply to: ketsuko

You also have to consider that each Tribe runs their system different and the level of corruption in some Tribal governments is breathtakingly horrible.

Don't Get Sick after June trailer

There is a documentary out there on NA Health care if the OP really wants to know how it works.

Or doesn't work, tbh.

But again, if you want to know what Health Care for all is going to be look in America, just ask someone who lives on a Rez.

Because they already have it.

originally posted by: Salander
a reply to: DigginFoTroof

I know nothing about the situation except that it exists.

However I think comparing it to whatever system might result from Medicare For All would be a poor comparison.

If the latter comes to pass, hopefully there would be informed and lengthy public discussion as to how it might be designed.

Since it would be exactly the same thing only 10,000 times bigger (read less efficient) I'm unsure how it would be a bad comparison.

But hey.. we warned you.

a reply to: Salander

*Pffffft*! Informed and lengthy discussion?! We have to pass those things to find out what's in them.

a reply to: Lumenari

Why must it be the same thing?

Why can it not be designed differently?

originally posted by: Salander
a reply to: Lumenari

Why must it be the same thing?

Why can it not be designed differently?

Because it's the US government.

They aren't interested in something that works. If they actually fixed something, it ceases to be an issue. If it ceases to be an issue, then there is no reason for them to exist and pander for votes.

originally posted by: carewemust
Is this like reparations?

I'd say it's more like a treaty obligation, which is not to say that it will be observed.
Why? Does it bother you?