title: Creating consensus on coverage choices.
abstract: The framework for reaching near-universal coverage outlined in this paper combines tax credits for private insurance and public program expansions. It illustrates how a series of incremental steps could be phased in to achieve near-universal coverage. Hallmarks include creation of a Congressional Health Plan; use of the income tax system to provide tax credits and enroll uninsured people; creation of a state Family Health Insurance Program open to everyone below 150 percent of poverty; and creation of a Medicare Part E, open to the disabled and uninsured older adults. The paper provides coverage and cost estimates and identifies potential sources of revenue to finance coverage.
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Fund, New York City, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoen
mesh_terms: D005380:Financing, Government / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007183:Income Tax / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011057:Politics; D011332:Privatization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016730:Program Development; D019464:Tax Exemption / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*