Universal Health Coverage By 2010 Should Be U.S. Aim, Institute Says

For example, the Institute says, Medicare could be expanded to cover 55-year-olds who pay a premium while a tax credit would be provided for moderate income individuals who are not covered by employer-based insurance to purchase individual policies.

The second strategy, the Institute says, is to mandate that employers provide coverage, with a subsidy available for certain employers.

Individuals who are not covered by an employer plan would be required to purchase individual coverage or enroll in a public program.

The third strategy is to establish an individual mandate and provide a tax credit, the Institute says.

It would be the responsibility of individuals to provide health insurance for themselves and their families in the private market, with each person eligible for a refundable tax credit, it says.

The fourth strategy, the Institute says, is to create a single payer system that would be funded and administered federally but which uses contractors and private health plans to review claims and process payments.

The Institute says federal leadership and federal dollars will be necessary to eliminate uninsurance.

“Our nation already invests in the health of its people by directly providing health insurance for some and by offering tax subsidies to support health insurance for others,” the Institute says.

“Insuring those who remain or become uninsured will require a substantial employer contribution, tax incentive or a nearly free public coverage program” it says.

The federal government, the Institute says, should take action to achieve universal coverage by 2010 and establish an explicit schedule to reach that goal.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Life & Health/Financial Services Edition, January 23, 2004. Copyright 2004 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.