This Article Reprint (PDF) Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hadley, J. Articles by Zuckerman, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hadley, J. Articles by Zuckerman, S. Related Collections Health Reform Health Spending

Health Affairs, Vol 13, Issue 1, 115-131
Copyright © 1994 by Project HOPE

Journal Article

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.

                      What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. E. Reinhardt The Swiss Health System: Regulated Competition Without Managed Care JAMA, September 8, 2004; 292(10): 1227 - 1231. [Full Text] [PDF]