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Ensuring Health Security: Is the Individual Market Ready for Prime Time?
Oct. 23, 2002
Health Affairs,Web Exclusive
Karen Pollitz, Richard Sorian
roposals to expand coverage of the uninsured through federal tax credits rely heavily on the individual insurance market. Yet the current market makes coverage less accessible, less affordable and inadequate to meet the needs of many people without insurance, especially those who have modest incomes or are in less-than-perfect health. States’ efforts to regulate the individual market can improve access for the vulnerable but, absent subsidies, may place coverage out of reach for the young and healthy. A combination of subsidies and market reforms could make insurance available to millions of Americans.
Free access to this article is available at the Health Affairs Web site.
