Catastrophic medical protection: a plan for sharing excessive costs

Cost sharing provisions in both private and public health insurance plans have greatly increased consumer out-of-pocket expenses for medical services in recent years. The effects of these provisions, coupled with the effects of massive unemployment, have been that many individuals are unable to afford adequate health insurance protection. To protect the nation's health, new proposals to expand health coverage have given rise to catastrophic health insurance. This new health policy priority may assist many low-wage and unemployed workers to meet their cost-sharing obligations in the face of rising medical costs.