But the size of the slowdown is surprising, as is the fact that it started several years before the 2008 recession – and not only in the private insurance system, but also in Medicare and Medicaid, the two major government health programs. (Medicare provides health coverage for retirees, and Medicaid provides coverage for low-income Americans and their children and those with disabilities.)
但减速的规模令人奇怪，同样令人奇怪的是减速从2008年衰退之前几年就开始了——而且不仅局限于私人保险系统，也出现在两大政府卫生项目——医疗保险（Medicare）和医疗补助（Medicaid）上。（医疗保险为退休人员提供医疗保障，而医疗补助为低收入美国人及其子女以及残疾人提供医疗保障。）