of medical services and the option to buy additional, The result is that virtually all of the elderly have this supplemental coverage in a well-designed market. [...] the basic plan stems primarily from the experience This “north star” goal—universal basic coverage— of many other countries that have tried to implement fulfills a societal commitment to try to provide ac- cost sharing in basic coverage but have ended up ex- cess to essential health care regardless of resources. [...] With no cost sharing, the insurer would have include the structure of the insurance provision, the to play a more active role in determining the essen- design of payment to health care providers, and the tial elements of medical care that a patient should role of federalism. [...] taxpayers also spent approximately authors recommend processes, which may depend 9 percent of the economy on health care, the on the budget for basic coverage, for regularly con- re-mainder privately (see Medical expenditure as a sidering and updating the bundle of covered services share of GDP). [...] It would preserve the “upgrade” ap- a way to get more health for the same total level of proach of the current Medicare program, but basic spending or the same health benefits at a lower cost.
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- 4
- Published in
- United States of America
