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Making health reform work without employer mandates
1Sloan Graduate Program in Health Services Administration, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
The Journal of American Health Policy
|April 8, 1993
Summary
Shifting health insurance responsibility from employers to households can improve economic competitiveness. This approach involves income-based subsidies and cost-effective benefit packages for better healthcare access.
Area of Science:
- Health economics
- Public health policy
- Labor economics
Background:
- Employer-sponsored health insurance is a common but potentially detrimental model.
- Current U.S. economic conditions necessitate innovative healthcare solutions.
- Expanding health insurance coverage is a key policy objective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the economic impact of employer-mandated health insurance.
- To propose an alternative model for health insurance procurement.
- To identify strategies for cost-effective healthcare coverage expansion.
Main Methods:
- Economic modeling to assess employment and competitiveness impacts.
- Analysis of policy levers for individual health insurance procurement.
- Framework development for basic, cost-effective health benefit packages.
Main Results:
- Employer mandates may negatively affect economic competitiveness and employment.
- Individual household responsibility, with subsidies, offers a viable alternative.
- Establishing benefit package limits based on efficacy and cost-effectiveness is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Transitioning health insurance responsibility to individuals is economically prudent.
- Targeted subsidies and defined benefit packages can ensure access and affordability.
- This model supports both economic strength and broader health coverage.