Ends and Means in Health Insurance Policy

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: Economic and Social Research Institute; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Author(s): B.C. Vladeck

Research Area: Health

Type: White Paper

Abstract:

Bruce Vladeck provides a general critique of the reform proposals in the first volume in this series. He argues that too many of the authors have falsely assumed that access to the kind of insurance they propose will ensure access to adequate health care. He suggests that the authors may be incorrect in concluding that the only way to achieve universal coverage is through incremental steps toward that goal. He criticizes the proposals for trying to create health insurance markets like those of economic theory in spite of the evidence that this is inconsistent with consumer preferences and probably will not work. He closes by offering the outlines of a reform he favors based on the principle that no one, once covered, should lose health insurance.