Medicare Plus: Increasing Health Coverage by Expanding Medicare

Publication Date:

Publisher: Economic and Social Research Institute

Author(s): J.S. Hacker

Research Area: Health

Type: White Paper

Abstract:

The current policy debate around health care coverage expansion centers largely on either expanding public programs, such as Medicaid and SCHIP, or using the tax system to encourage more individuals to purchase health coverage in the private market. Jacob S. Hacker outlines a proposal that differs from these policy options. He would replace the current scattered patchwork of voluntary private coverage and residual public programs with an employer mandate and enrollment of much of the population in an expanded Medicare program called "Medicare Plus."