President Clinton's Health Security Act: a financial perspective

The loftiness of President Clinton's goals may not survive the devil in the details, suggests the author of this article, who identifies four fundamental flaws in the Health Security Act of 1993. First, the act does not link the benefit package of coverage offered to all Americans with the funding available from employers or government to pay for these benefits; second, the act does not provide incentives for consumers to use health resources wisely; third, the act relies too much on government regulation; and fourth, the act provides few incentives for medical research, new drugs, and improved technology.