The Economist Examines U.S. Health Insurance Reform Options

The Dec. 21 issue of The Economist examines the prospects for health insurance reform in the United States, including options to expand coverage for the uninsured. President Bush has thus far focused on a Medicare prescription drug benefit, but the uninsured will present "a bigger challenge," according to the Economist. The Economist notes that so far there have been "few voices raised in support of" a implementing a single-payer system, although Oregon and other states have considered it. A recent ballot initiative in Oregon to implement such a system failed by a margin of roughly four to one. Another option some policymakers have suggested is offering tax credits and rebates to people in buying private health care coverage. Others favor expanding Medicaid, the Economist reports. The "most interesting" proposal, according to The Economist, would require all Americans to purchase health insurance, with currently uninsured working poor people using tax credits to buy private coverage and the "truly" poor becoming part of "government-sponsored risk pools" (Economist, 12/21).