Health reform: the good, the bad, and the bottom line.
The Health Security Act is a pragmatic plan for achieving universal health insurance coverage for a broad package of benefits at reasonable cost. It proposes necessary and reasonable changes in insurance market practices and administrative structure. It finances the reformed system with a credible combination of achievable cost savings, mandatory private-sector payments, and limited "sin" taxes. Political constraints-the inability to tax openly or redistribute tax subsidies-result in weak incentives for consumers to choose low-cost plans and an inefficient scheme for providing subsidies to the poor. The act also unnecessarily restricts and regulates fee-for-service plans and the training of health workers. We propose changes to correct the act's weaknesses without compromising its basic objectives.
Hadley
J
J
Department of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Zuckerman
S
S
D003256:Community Participation / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011057:Politics; D014481:United States