Publications and Reports
"Covering America: Real Remedies for the Uninsured," vol. 2
This paper, the second in a series, is a set of three new proposals from distinguished health analysts who outline policy options for broadly extending health insurance coverage. This volume includes three commentaries by distinguished observers of the health system about the challenges of achieving major coverage expansions and how they can be addressed.
Economic and Social Research Institute, November 2002
"Covering America: Real Remedies for the Uninsured," vol. 1
This paper is a set of 10 comprehensive health coverage proposals that seek to move the country toward universal health coverage. The proposals include a number that are broad in scope and go beyond incremental reform. Included are new approaches to using federal income tax credits, expanding Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, implementing Medicare buy-ins, and organizing insurance purchasing.
Economic and Social Research Institute, June 2001
"Health Insurance Tax Credits: Will They Work for Women?"
Based on an analysis of the plans offered in 25 cities, this study finds that tax credits of $1,000 or $1,500 per person would leave even healthy young women with a choice of plans with deductibles that would be high relative to their incomes.
Commonwealth Fund, December 2002
"States as Innovators in Low-Income Health Coverage: Fast Facts"
This Fast Facts document provides basic information on states' innovation on health coverage.
Urban Institute, July, 2002
"Nine Billion Dollars a Year to Cover the Uninsured: Possible Common Ground for Significant, Incremental Progress"
This paper suggests that a variety of approaches could build on earlier, bipartisan accomplishments and cover a large group of uninsured. Suggested approaches include: individual choice strategies, hybrid strategies, and state-based strategies.
Economic and Social Research Institute, October 2002
"States as Innovators in Low-Income Health Coverage"
The paper provides a typology of innovation which classifies all 50 states into four groups based on the extent to which they expanded coverage beyond required minimums. The policies in the 13 states with the most extensive coverage are described. The most innovative states have higher per capita incomes, higher education levels, and larger urban populations. They are less politically conservative and have the highest rate of public health insurance coverage and the lowest rate of uninsurance.
Urban Institute, June, 2002
"A 10-Foot Rope for a 40-Foot Hole: Tax Credits for the Uninsured"
A 25-state survey that examines what health coverage is available for $1,000 for healthy, non-smoking women ages 55 and 25.
Families USA, September 12, 2001
"Tax Credits for Individual Health Insurance: Effects on Employer Coverage And Refinements to Improve Overall Coverage Rates"
This paper suggests tax-credit proposals that provide credits for only non-employer-group coverage could be modified to reduce the incentives that could cause some employers and employees to drop coverage and provides three specific suggested modifications.
Economic and Social Research Institute, October 2002
"Tax Subsidies for Health Insurance: Evaluating the Costs and Benefits"
This technical report from Jon Gruber and Larry Levitt provides 1) a description of the detailed simulation model and the assumptions used to analyze the effects of different tax subsidies for the purchase of health insurance coverage, and 2) the results of this analysis.
Health Affairs and the Kaiser Family Foundation, January 2000
"Covering the Low-Income Uninsured: Assessing the Alternatives"
This issue brief describes and analyzes expansions of Medicaid and SCHIP, tax credits for individually-purchased insurance, and tax credits for employment-based health insurance as options to expand health coverage of the low-income population.
Kaiser Family Foundation, July 2001
"Are Tax Credits Alone the Solution to Affordable Health Insurance? Comparing Individual and Group Insurance Costs in 17 U.S. Markets"
Jon Gabel and colleagues at Health Research and Educational Trust compared similar benefit packages in the individual and group insurance markets. The report supplements an April 17 Health Affairs article by Gabel and colleagues entitled, "Individual Insurance: How Much Financial Protection Does It Provide?"
Commonwealth Fund, May 2002
"Solving the Health Insurance Problem for Working Americans"
Chapter discusses how tax credits are a crucial element of the solution lowering the ranks of the uninsured.
The Heritage Foundation, 2001
Kaiser Project on Incremental Health Reform
Examines different strategies for
expanding health insurance coverage, including Democratic and Republican perspectives.
"Covering The Low-Income Uninsured: The Case For Expanding Public Programs"
This abstract discusses a paper on using government-financed subsidies to address expanding coverage in the uninsured population that is least able to afford coverage and most likely to have difficulties getting appropriate and timely care.
Health Affairs, July 2001
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