ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series
ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Working Paper No. RWP23-003
January 2023
ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Authors
See citation below for complete author information.
Ethel Zimmerman Wiener Professor of Public Policy, ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø; Henry and Allison McCance Professor of Business Administration, HBS
Associate Professor of Public Policy
Abstract
The United States spends substantially more on health care than most developed countries, yet leaves a greater share of the population uninsured. We suggest that incremental insurance expansions focused on addressing market failures will propagate inefficiencies and are not likely to facilitate active policy decisions that align with societal coverage goals. By instead defining a basic bundle of services that is publicly financed for all, while allowing individuals to purchase additional coverage, policymakers could both expand coverage and maintain incentives for innovation, fostering universal access to innovative care in an affordable system.
Citation
Baicker, Katherine, Amitabh Chandra, and Mark Shepard. "Achieving Universal Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: Addressing Market Failures or Providing a Social Floor?" ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP23-003, January 2023.