Health Policy Research Update
Eliminating health insurance tax subsidies for high-income individuals could fund medical care for the uninsured and would not result in a large number of high-income individuals dropping their private health coverage, according to an analysis of employment and insurance cost data.
The analysis, published in Medical Care Research and Review, found that the rising cost of private insurance has led to an increase in the number of uninsured adults, while the number of adults who have private coverage has declined. The author states that even if employment rates improve, the cost of private insurance and the decline in the number of small businesses that provide coverage for workers still would make it difficult for individuals to obtain coverage.
The analysis recommends tighter cost control measures to make insurance programs more manageable.
This week's Health Policy Research Update also features content from the August issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, which focuses on health literacy.