title: The public cost of expanding coverage.
abstract: The 103d Congress considered several health care reform bills that would encourage voluntary expansions of coverage through insurance market reforms, new tax deductions for premiums, and direct premium subsidies for low-income persons. We found that insurance reforms alone will do little to expand coverage. We also found that most of the proposed tax deductions would go to persons who already have insurance and would have little impact on coverage. Premium subsidies for low-income persons would greatly increase coverage. However, coverage would change little for those who would have to pay all or part of the premium.
authors.affiliation: Lewin-VHI, Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sheils
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Haught
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics*; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D014481:United States