Health, health insurance and the uninsured

Article Abstract:

Health care must be provided for all Americans at a cost that is affordable. The quality and appropriateness of health care must be improved. This also means that the variation of care to people based on their socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and insurance status must be reduced. Health care must consider both quality and quantity of life. When trade-offs must be made between the two, the patient should make the decision. Changing economic incentives, such as having insured patients pay a moderate fee rather than no fee for a given service, has changed the use of health care by as much as 25 percent. These economic changes affect the use of both necessary and unnecessary services. While such incentives have not affected the health of the average American in any significant way, they may affect the health of poor people who are sick. Thus, it is felt that health insurance should be extended to the poor. A health insurance plan for the uninsured should include services that have been shown to be effective in reducing sickness and mortality. Because of budget constraints, additional money for this insurance may not come from the federal government. Funds can be raised by reducing the use of unnecessary health care by those who are insured. A system of guidelines must be developed to determine appropriate and necessary care, and these guidelines must be evaluated by the federal government. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Social aspects, Care and treatment, Medical economics, Poor, Health insurance, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs, editorial

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Reducing the number of uninsured by subsidizing employment-based health insurance: results from a pilot study

Article Abstract:

Many small businesses may not offer their employees health insurance even if the state subsidizes a large part of the cost. Two pilot programs authorized by the New York State legislature in 1988 offered subsidized health insurance to businesses of 20 or fewer employees who were not covered by another plan. The state paid half the premium, and the employer paid the remainder. During the program, the percentage of businesses that offered their employees insurance increased from 8.7% to 12.2%, an increase of 3.5%. But only five percent of the businesses adding an insurance plan in 1989 were participants in the program. Although the program was widely advertised, only 20% of employers in the program areas (Albany and Brooklyn) were aware of the program; this could have contributed to the low participation rates. However, studies of participation in subsidized insurance plans in other states have found the same dismal rates. It may be necessary to develop insurance plans for employees of small businesses that are not linked to their employment.

Laws, regulations and rules, Compensation and benefits, Small business, Insurance, Subsidies

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