Making Catastrophic Health Care Affordable: A Nine Point Program

Publication Date: February 1987

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Peter J. Ferrara; Stuart M. Butler

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Health care

Type: Report

Abstract:

Pressure is growing in Congress for legislation to address the problem of catastrophic health care costs, the high medical bills that can force Americans into bankruptcy or onto welfare. There is wide agreement that action on this is needed to deal with the financial problems of three groups: elderly Americans facing enormous hospital bills exceeding their Medicare coverage, the elderly who need expensive long-term nursing care, and working Americans with inadequate or no health insurance. But while there is agreement on the need, intense debate rages over the most effective approach.