Health insurance mandate: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
i'm going to insist that we actually use indepdent reliable sources, and that when we cite them we accurately convey their content; "substantial bipartisan support" is supported by the klein piece
Undid revision 498519201 by MastCell (talk)Klein doesn't say that, and you wholesale reverted other changes See Talk.
Line 3: Line 3:
==United States==
==United States==


{{POV-section|date=June 2012}}
An individual mandate to purchase healthcare was initially proposed by the [[conservatism in the United States|politically conservative]] [[Heritage Foundation]] in 1989 as an alternative to [[single-payer health care]]. From its inception, the idea of an individual mandate was championed by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politicians as a free-market approach to health-care reform. In 2006, Republican [[Mitt Romney]], then governor of Massachusetts, [[Massachusetts health care reform|signed an individual mandate into law]] with strong bipartisan support. In 2007, a [[Healthy Americans Act|Senate bill featuring a federal mandate]], authored by [[Bob Bennett (politician)|Bob Bennett]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Utah|UT]]) and [[Ron Wyden]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Oregon|OR]]), attracted substantial bipartisan support.<ref name="new-yorker-lizza">{{cite news | work = [[New Yorker]] | title= Romney's dilemma | url = http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/06/06/110606fa_fact_lizza | first = Ryan | last = Lizza | authorlink = Ryan Lizza | accessdate = June 19, 2012 | date = June 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="new-yorker-klein">{{cite news | work = [[New Yorker]] | first = Ezra | last = Klein | authorlink = Ezra Klein | title = Unpopular Mandate | acceessdate = June 19, 2012 | date = June 25, 2012 | url = http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/06/25/120625fa_fact_klein}}</ref>


The idea of a limited individual mandate was supported by certain [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politicians as a free-market approach to health-care reform. In 2006, Republican [[Mitt Romney]], then governor of Massachusetts, [[Massachusetts health care reform|signed into law a state level individual mandate]] that had been proposed by Democrats in the state legislature.<ref>http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/04/the-significance-of-massachusetts-health-reform</ref> In 2007, a [[Healthy Americans Act|Senate bill featuring a federal mandate]] was authored by [[Bob Bennett (politician)|Bob Bennett]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Utah|UT]]) and [[Ron Wyden]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Oregon|OR]]).<ref name="new-yorker-lizza">{{cite news | work = [[New Yorker]] | title= Romney's dilemma | url = http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/06/06/110606fa_fact_lizza | first = Ryan | last = Lizza | authorlink = Ryan Lizza | accessdate = June 19, 2012 | date = June 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="new-yorker-klein">{{cite news | work = [[New Yorker]] | first = Ezra | last = Klein | authorlink = Ezra Klein | title = Unpopular Mandate | acceessdate = June 19, 2012 | date = June 25, 2012 | url = http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/06/25/120625fa_fact_klein}}</ref> In 2009, every Republican Senator (including Bennett, who had co-written the 2007 bill featuring a mandate) voted to describe the mandate as "unconstitutional".<ref name="new-yorker-klein"/> Writing in the ''[[New Yorker]]'', Ezra Klein stated that "the end result was...&nbsp;a policy that once enjoyed broad support within the Republican Party suddenly faced unified opposition."<ref name="new-yorker-klein"/>
However, following the adoption of an individual mandate as a central component of [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] in 2009, Republicans began to oppose the mandate. In 2009, every Republican Senator (including Bennett, who had co-written the 2007 bill featuring a mandate) voted to describe the mandate as "unconstitutional". (Explaining his opposition, Bennett later said: "I didn’t focus on the particulars of the amendment as closely as I should have, and probably would have voted the other way if I had understood that the individual mandate was at its core. I just wanted to express my opposition to the Obama proposal at every opportunity.")<ref name="new-yorker-klein"/>

Other Republican politicians who had previously supported individual mandates, including Romney and [[Orrin Hatch]], similarly emerged as vocal critics of the mandate in Obama's legislation.<ref name="new-yorker-lizza"/><ref name="new-yorker-klein"/> Writing in the ''[[New Yorker]]'', Ezra Klein stated that "the end result was...&nbsp;a policy that once enjoyed broad support within the Republican Party suddenly faced unified opposition."<ref name="new-yorker-klein"/>

=== Criticism of mandate in federal health care legislation ===

{{POV-section|date=June 2012}}


[[Federal]] [[Affordable Care Act|insurance legislation]] signed in 2010 includes both employer and individual mandates to take effect in 2014, but it is controversial and is being widely challenged in federal courts. As of January 2012, two of four [[United States courts of appeals|federal appellate courts]] have upheld the [[individual mandate]]; a third declared it [[ultra vires#Constitutional law|unconstitutional]], and a fourth said the federal [[Anti-Injunction Act (1867)|Anti-Injunction Act]] prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.<ref name="kendall1">{{cite news| url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904006104576504383685080762.html | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Brent | last=Kendall | title=Health Overhaul Is Dealt Setback | date=August 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="savage1">{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-heathcare-ruling-20110909,0,3821769.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=David G. | last=Savage | title=Virginia court rejects two challenges to Obama's healthcare law | date=September 8, 2011}}</ref> The Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2012.<ref name="vicini1">{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-usa-healthcare-courttre7bi1fe-20111219,0,5978803.story | work=Chicago Tribune | first=James | last=Vicini | title=Supreme Court sets Obama healthcare arguments}}</ref> As of February 2012, 72% of registered voters believed the individual mandate is unconstitutional,<ref name="politico1">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73315.html |title=Poll: Sharp split on health care repeal |first=Tim |last=Mak |publisher=Politico.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-29}}</ref> and 50% want the Supreme Court to overturn the entire statute.<ref name="quinnipiac1">{{cite web|url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1709 |title=National (US) Poll - American Voters Hum, 'happy Da |date=February 23, 2012 | location=Hamden, Connecticut |publisher=Quinnipiac University|date= |accessdate=2012-03-29}}</ref>
[[Federal]] [[Affordable Care Act|insurance legislation]] signed in 2010 includes both employer and individual mandates to take effect in 2014, but it is controversial and is being widely challenged in federal courts. As of January 2012, two of four [[United States courts of appeals|federal appellate courts]] have upheld the [[individual mandate]]; a third declared it [[ultra vires#Constitutional law|unconstitutional]], and a fourth said the federal [[Anti-Injunction Act (1867)|Anti-Injunction Act]] prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.<ref name="kendall1">{{cite news| url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904006104576504383685080762.html | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Brent | last=Kendall | title=Health Overhaul Is Dealt Setback | date=August 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="savage1">{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-heathcare-ruling-20110909,0,3821769.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=David G. | last=Savage | title=Virginia court rejects two challenges to Obama's healthcare law | date=September 8, 2011}}</ref> The Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2012.<ref name="vicini1">{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-usa-healthcare-courttre7bi1fe-20111219,0,5978803.story | work=Chicago Tribune | first=James | last=Vicini | title=Supreme Court sets Obama healthcare arguments}}</ref> As of February 2012, 72% of registered voters believed the individual mandate is unconstitutional,<ref name="politico1">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73315.html |title=Poll: Sharp split on health care repeal |first=Tim |last=Mak |publisher=Politico.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-29}}</ref> and 50% want the Supreme Court to overturn the entire statute.<ref name="quinnipiac1">{{cite web|url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1709 |title=National (US) Poll - American Voters Hum, 'happy Da |date=February 23, 2012 | location=Hamden, Connecticut |publisher=Quinnipiac University|date= |accessdate=2012-03-29}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:31, 20 June 2012

A health insurance mandate is either an employer or individual mandate to obtain private health insurance instead of (or in addition to) a national health insurance plan.[1]

United States

The idea of a limited individual mandate was supported by certain Republican politicians as a free-market approach to health-care reform. In 2006, Republican Mitt Romney, then governor of Massachusetts, signed into law a state level individual mandate that had been proposed by Democrats in the state legislature.[2] In 2007, a Senate bill featuring a federal mandate was authored by Bob Bennett (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).[3][4] In 2009, every Republican Senator (including Bennett, who had co-written the 2007 bill featuring a mandate) voted to describe the mandate as "unconstitutional".[4] Writing in the New Yorker, Ezra Klein stated that "the end result was... a policy that once enjoyed broad support within the Republican Party suddenly faced unified opposition."[4]

Federal insurance legislation signed in 2010 includes both employer and individual mandates to take effect in 2014, but it is controversial and is being widely challenged in federal courts. As of January 2012, two of four federal appellate courts have upheld the individual mandate; a third declared it unconstitutional, and a fourth said the federal Anti-Injunction Act prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.[5][6] The Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2012.[7] As of February 2012, 72% of registered voters believed the individual mandate is unconstitutional,[8] and 50% want the Supreme Court to overturn the entire statute.[9]

Insurance lobbyists (AHIP) in the United States say the mandate is necessary to support guaranteed issue and community rating, which limit underwriting by insurers; insurers say the mandate is intended to prevent adverse selection by ensuring healthy individuals purchase insurance and thus broaden the risk pool.[10] Studies of empirical evidence suggest that the threat of adverse selection is exaggerated,[11] and that risk aversion and propitious selection may balance it.[12] For example, several US states have guaranteed issue[13] and limits on rating,[14] but only Massachusetts has an individual mandate; similarly, although Japan has a nominal mandate, around 10% of individuals do not comply, and there is no penalty (they simply remain uninsured - see below). Without mandates, for-profit insurers have necessarily relied on risk aversion to charge premiums over expected risks, but have been constrained by what customers are willing to pay; mandates eliminate that constraint, allowing insurers to charge more.[15] Governments that impose a mandate must subsidize those who cannot afford it, thus shifting the cost onto taxpayers.[16]

In 2010, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that more than 20 million people would remain uninsured despite the mandates and subsidies enacted.[17] A 2004 editorial in USA Today asserted that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) data show the uninsured are unfairly billed for services at rates far higher—on average 305% at urban hospitals in California—than are the insured; USA Today concluded that "millions of [uninsured patients] are forced to subsidize insured patients."[18] Citing data from the Urban Institute and the experience of Massachusetts (see below), the Cato Institute argues that without the uninsured, "The insured would pay more, not less."[19] The Pacific Research Institute argues that the uninsured subsidize the insured, do not drive up the cost of health care, and use fewer services than the insured.[20]

The Los Angeles Times reported in 2009 that mandates without cost controls "add up to higher costs for taxpayers and consumers."[21] The Washington Post reported that even with mandates insurers would likely continue discrimination to "chase away the chronically ill," quoting Karen Pollitz, research professor at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute: "The race is to the bottom."[22] The Wall Street Journal said it would render constitutional limits on federal power "a dead letter" and asked, "If the insurance mandate stands, then why can't Congress insist that Americans buy GM cars, or that obese Americans eat their vegetables or pay a fat tax penalty?"[23]

National Nurses United, the nation's largest registered nurses organization and a supporter of Medicare-for-all, ranked the individual mandate first in a list of ten problems explaining their opposition to the bills passed by Congress in 2009.[24] The California Nurses Association, which supports single-payer healthcare, added that due to "insurance company pirates and their predatory pricing practices...subsidies and tweaking will amount to little more than an umbrella in a hurricane."[25] Physicians for a National Health Program, which also supports single-payer healthcare, wrote that "mandate-based health reforms don't work."[26]

The insurance mandate has faced opposition across the political spectrum, from left-leaning groups such as the Green Party and other advocates of single-payer healthcare to right-leaning groups such as the Heritage Foundation, FreedomWorks, and the Cato Institute as well as some members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.[27][28] In the Senate Finance Committee, Republican Jim Bunning of Kentucky has called a mandate 'un-American' and argued that it "may even be unconstitutional".[29]

However, the idea has traditionally gathered support from insurance companies[21] and some politicians within the Republican Party (Charles Grassley, Mitt Romney, and the late John Chafee are examples),[27] and became part of the defeated Clinton health care plan of 1993[30][31] and Hillary Clinton's plan in 2008.[32] Some sources trace the idea to the Heritage Foundation around 1990,[33] but the Heritage Foundation has since concluded that the mandate is unconstitutional.[34] In 2008, mandate supporter Larry Levitt, Vice President of the Kaiser Family Foundation (founded by the founder of the Kaiser Permanente HMO), stated in a Kaiser Network "interactive web show" that the mandate has been at the heart of health care reform proposals in the United States.[35] In the same Kaiser network show, Dr. Len Nichols, Director of the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation, called an individual mandate an "absolutely necessary" pre-condition to universal health care: he stated that, without a mandate, only a maximum of about half of uninsured Americans would likely obtain coverage under any non-compulsory reform.[35] A 2008 AHIP/Kaiser forum cited Dutch and Swiss mandates (see below); AHIP's published report does not mention penalties but says Switzerland "enforces the rules in many ways..."[36] In October 2009, Kaiser Health News reported that "the mandate has become a target for both Democrats and Republicans" and stated, "The insurance industry is clearly worried about the mandate being defanged."[37]

Opponents such as Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, make a philosophical argument that people should have the right to live without government social interference as a matter of individual liberty. He has stated that federal, state, and local governments are not willing or able to raise the necessary funds to effectively subsidize people who cannot currently afford insurance. He has also stated that the costs of increasing coverage are far higher than other reforms, such as reducing the amount of errors and accidents in treatment, which would accomplish as much or more benefit to society.[35]

Writing in the Huffington Post, Michael Moore criticized mandates as part of a "massive government bailout for the insurance industry."[38] On FireDogLake, Jane Hamsher called it "lemon socialism."[39] Consumer Watchdog (CWD) writes, "Requiring people to buy unaffordable and unreliable insurance policies is not the solution to the health care crisis;"[40] CWD's John Simpson added, "Mandating that everyone must buy insurance from private companies simply guarantees huge profits for the industry."[41] Interviewed on Democracy Now!, Ralph Nader said people are "being forced to buy junk insurance policies" and called the bill's imminent enactment "a disaster."[42]

On CNN, Lou Dobbs Tonight analyzed the financial costs of an individual mandate and quoted The Politico's Nia-Malika Henderson: "the individual mandate is really going to rub a lot of people the wrong way."[43] Summarizing published sources of the debate from 2007 through 2009, James Joyner concluded: "Forcing Americans to buy health insurance regardless of whether they want it or can afford it is extremely controversial, with not only Republicans but most of the Democratic contenders for the presidency in 2008 opposing it."[44]

There is also disagreement as to whether federal mandates can be constitutional.[45] In 2010, a majority of the 50 states filed litigation contending the individual mandate is unconstitutional,[46] and newly elected Republican governors campaigned promising to add their states to the list in 2011; federal district courts have split on the constitutionality issue, which is expected ultimately to reach the Supreme Court;[47][48] also, state legislative actions may at least cause delay.[49][50] The Militia Acts of 1792, based on the Constitution's militia clause (in addition to its affirmative authorization to raise an army and a navy), would have required every "free able-bodied white male citizen" between the ages of 18 and 45, with a few occupational exceptions, to "provide himself" a weapon and ammunition;[51] however, it was never enforced so its constitutionality was never litigated.[52] In 1994, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report describing an individual mandate as "an unprecedented form of federal action." The agency also wrote, "The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States."[53]

In a September 2010 working paper,[54] a forthcoming article in the NYU Journal of Law and Liberty, and a lecture given at NYU, Randy Barnett of Georgetown University Law Center argues that the mandate is unconstitutional under the doctrine of the Commerce and Necessary and Proper Clauses, and that enforcing it is equivalent to "commandeering the people." Penalizing inaction, he argues, is only defensible when a fundamental duty of a person has been established. He also notes that Congress fails to enforce the mandate under its taxing power because the penalty is not revenue-generating according to the Act itself.

Public opinion polls from 2009 through 2012 continue to find that most Americans reject penalizing people for not buying health insurance.[55][56][57][58] In 2010, voters in at least three states enacted ballot measures to block the individual mandate, "laying the foundation for future legal challenges... Oklahoma approved an opt-out ballot initiative by a 2-to-1 margin. Proposition 106 in Arizona gained 55 percent of the vote. ... Missouri voters approved a similar measure, Proposition C, with 71 percent support on a primary ballot in August."[59] In November 2011, the issue appeared on the ballot in Ohio, where a Quinnipiac Poll of registered voters found that "when asked if they agree with a mandate that they obtain coverage or face fines, opposition jumped to 67 percent, with just 29 percent backing the mandate;"[60] subsequent reports showed 66% of voters rejected the mandate.[61]

US States

A 2005 Massachusetts law mandating health insurance, in part by offering subsidized insurance programs to poor and lower income residents, replaced 28% of unpaid hospital visits with a 28% increase in taxpayer subsidized insurance (MassHealth and Commonwealth Care).[62] Contrary to supporters' claims that insurance coverage and preventive care would save money by reducing emergency visits, in fact both emergency visits and costs increased significantly.[63] Before the law was passed, per capita health care costs in Massachusetts were the highest for any part of the country except D.C.[64] From 2003 to 2008 (three years prior and two years after enactment) Massachusetts insurance premiums continued to outpace the rest of United States, however the rate of growth year to year for Massachusetts has slowed as a result of the law.[65] Insurance rates in Massachusetts are reported to be the highest in the country when measured absolutely,[66] but this statistic doesn't tell the complete story: when measured relatively (by taking cost of living into effect) Massachusetts premium rates are among the "least expensive of all states when considering the proportion of one's income required to pay for health insurance".[67] The Wall Street Journal reported that mandates squeezed "those in the middle" in Massachusetts.[68] Writing in the The New York Times opinion blog "Room for Debate," single-payer health care advocate Marcia Angell (a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine), said that a coverage mandate would not be necessary within a single-payer system and that even within the context of the current system she was "troubled by the notion of an individual mandate."[69] She described the Massachusetts mandates as "a windfall for the insurance industry" and wrote, "Premiums are rising much faster than income, benefit packages are getting skimpier, and deductibles and co-payments are going up."[69]

Other states do provide community rating and guaranteed issue, without mandates and with lower premiums than Massachusetts.[70] For example, New York, which borders Massachusetts, requires pure community rating and individual guaranteed issue.

Japan

Japan has a universal health care system that mandates all residents have health insurance, either at work or through a local community-based insurer, but does not impose penalties on individuals for not having insurance.[71] The Japanese health ministry "tightly controls the price of health care down to the smallest detail. Every two years, the doctors and the health ministry negotiate a fixed price for every procedure and every drug. That helps keep premiums to around $280 a month for the average Japanese family."[72] Insurance premiums are set by the government, with guaranteed issue and community rating.[73] Insurers are not allowed to deny claims or coverage, or to make profits (net revenue is carried over to the next year, and if the carryover is large, the premium goes down).[72] Around 10% evade the compulsory insurance premium; municipal governments do not issue them insurance cards, which providers require.[71] Voluntary private insurance is available through several sources including employers and unions to cover expenditures not covered by statutory insurance, but this accounts for only about 2% of health care spending.[71] Generally, doctors cannot deny care to patients in the low-priced universal system because if they did, they would "go out of business."[74][75] Total spending is around half the American level, and taxpayers subsidize the poor.[72]

Australia

Australia's national health insurance program is known as Medicare, and is financed by general taxation including a Medicare levy on earnings; use of Medicare is not compulsory and the tax code encourages people to buy private insurance.[76] Individuals with high annual incomes (A$70,000 in the 2008 federal budget) who do not have specified levels of private hospital coverage are subject to an additional 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge.[77] People of average incomes and below may be eligible for subsidies to buy private insurance, but face no penalty for not buying it.[78] Private insurers must comply with guaranteed issue and community rating requirements, but may limit coverage of pre-existing ailments for up to one year to discourage adverse selection.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands has a health insurance mandate[79] and allows for-profit companies to compete for minimum coverage insurance plans, though there are also mutual insurers so use of a commercial for-profit insurer is not compulsory. The government regulates the insurers and operates a risk equalization mechanism to subsidize insurers that insure relatively more expensive customers. Several features hold down the level of premiums which facilitate public compliance with the mandate. The cost of health care in the Netherlands is higher than the European average but is less than in the United States. Half of the cost of insurance for adults is paid for by an income-related tax with which goes towards a subsidy of private insurance via the risk reinsurance pool operated by the regulator. The government pays the entire cost for children. Forty percent of the population is eligible for a premium subsidy. About 1.5 percent of the legal population is estimated to be uninsured. The architects of the Dutch mandate did not envision any problem with non-compliance, the initial legislation created few effective sanctions if a person does not take out insurance or pay premiums, and the government is currently developing enforcement mechanisms.[80]

Switzerland

Switzerland's system approximates to that of the Netherlands with regulated private insurance companies competing to provide the minimum necessary coverage to meet its mandate. Premiums are not linked to incomes, but the government provides subsidies to lower-class individuals to help them pay for their plans. About 40% of households received some kind of subsidy in 2004. Individuals are free to spend as much as they want for their plans and buy additional health services if desired. The system has virtual universal coverage, with about 99% of people having insurance. The laws behind the system were created in 1996.[81] A recent issue in the country is their rising health care costs, which are higher than European averages. However, those rising costs are still a little less than the increases in the United States.[81]

Employer mandates, by jurisdiction

United States

Federal insurance legislation signed in 2010 includes both employer and individual mandates to take effect in 2014, but it is controversial and is being widely challenged in federal courts. As of January 2012, two of four federal federal appellate courts have upheld it; a third declared the individual mandate unconstitutional, and a fourth said the federal Anti-Injunction Act prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015.[5][6] The Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2012.[7] As of February 2012, 72% of registered voters believed the individual mandate is unconstitutional,[8] and 50% want the Supreme Court to overturn the entire statute.[9]

France and Germany

In the two largest EU countries, France and Germany, Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) mandates employers and employees pay into statutory sickness funds. In France, private health insurance (PHI) is voluntary and used to increase the reimbursement rate from the statutory sickness system. The same applies in Germany where it is also possible to opt out of SHI if you are a very high earner and into a PHI but if a person has reached the age of 55 and is in the PHI sector he or she must remain covered by PHI and cannot opt back into SHI. Persons who are unemployed can usually continue their payments through social insurance and the very poor receive support from the government to be insured. Most workers are insured through compulsory membership of "sickness funds" that are non-profit entities established originally by trades unions and now given statutory status. In Germany and France, as is the case with most European health care finance, the personal contribution to health care financing varies according to a person's income level and not according to their health status. Only 0.2% of Germans are uninsured, mainly self-employed, rich and poor, and persons who have failed to pay contributions to the statutory insurance or premiums to the private health insurance. Between 1990 and 2000 the share of French SHI income coming directly from employees via salaries fell from around 30% to just 3% and employer direct contributions also fell. The difference was made up by a rise in income from government taxation, thus widening the mandatory contribution base to the health insurance system.[82][83]

References

  1. ^ D. Andrew Austin, Thomas L. Hungerford (2010). Market Structure of the Health Insurance Industry Congressional Research Service. Library of Congress.
  2. ^ http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/04/the-significance-of-massachusetts-health-reform
  3. ^ Lizza, Ryan (June 6, 2011). "Romney's dilemma". New Yorker. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Klein, Ezra (June 25, 2012). "Unpopular Mandate". New Yorker. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |acceessdate= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b Kendall, Brent (August 13, 2011). "Health Overhaul Is Dealt Setback". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ a b Savage, David G. (September 8, 2011). "Virginia court rejects two challenges to Obama's healthcare law". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ a b Vicini, James. "Supreme Court sets Obama healthcare arguments". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^ a b Mak, Tim. "Poll: Sharp split on health care repeal". Politico.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  9. ^ a b "National (US) Poll - American Voters Hum, 'happy Da". Hamden, Connecticut: Quinnipiac University. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  10. ^ Transcript | Obama's Deal | FRONTLINE | PBS http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/361/1/6
  11. ^ "Adverse Selection in Insurance Markets: An Exaggerated Threat". The Yale Law Journal. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  12. ^ Grönqvist, Erik. "Does Adverse Selection Matter? Evidence from a Natural Experiment". repec.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  13. ^ "Individual Market Guaranteed Issue". Statehealthfacts.org. Kaiser. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  14. ^ "Individual Market Rate Restrictions". Statehealthfacts.org. Kaiser. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  15. ^ Cowen, Tyler (October 25, 2009). "How an Insurance Mandate Could Leave Many Worse Off". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  16. ^ http://www.ct.gov/sustinet/lib/sustinet/referencelibrary/sustinet_jama_re_cost_shifting_9-2-09.pdf http://mdpolicy.org/policyblog/detail/a-bad-exchange http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/15/news/economy/massachusetts_healthcare_reform.fortune/index.htm
  17. ^ "CBO | H.R. 4872, Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Final Health Care Legislation)" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. March 20, 2010. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  18. ^ "Uninsured billed unfairly". USA Today. July 1, 2004. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  19. ^ Cannon, Michael F. (2009-09-23). "All the President's Mandates: Compulsory Health Insurance Is a Government Takeover". Cato Institute: Briefing Paper. Cato.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  20. ^ http://liberty.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20070408_HPPv5n2_0207.pdf
  21. ^ a b Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/24/nation/na-healthcare-affordability24,full.story. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)"Mandate minus price controls may increase healthcare costs With lawmakers reluctant to limit what insurers may charge, there's little to slow soaring premiums. Coupled with millions of new customers, that adds up to higher costs for taxpayers and consumers."
  22. ^ Hilzenrath, David S. (October 4, 2009). "Reform Is No Cure for Insurer Discrimination, Health Experts Say". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  23. ^ "ObamaCare and the Constitution". The Wall Street Journal. April 2, 2010.
  24. ^ Weiner, Rachel (December 22, 2009). "Nation's Largest Nurses Organization: Health Care Bill Cedes Too Much To Insurance Industry". Huffington Post.
  25. ^ Guaranteed Healthcare. "The elephant in the room, the affordability scam". GuaranteedHealthcare.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  26. ^ "Uninsured figures show mandate-based health reforms don't work". Physicians for a National Health Program. September 10, 2009. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  27. ^ a b Murphy, Patricia (August 24, 2009). "Individual Mandate Flies Under the Radar". Politics Daily. Retrieved September 4, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "2009-09-14 The Green Party responds to Obama's speech: Mr. President, make health care a right for all Americans". GP.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  29. ^ "White House Deal With Drugmakers Survives Challenge in Committee". California Healthline. September 25, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2009. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ "CBO | The Budgetary Treatment of an Individual Mandate to Buy Health Insurance" (PDF). Cbo.gov. 1994-08-01. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  31. ^ Smith, Ben (2010-03-23). "Obamacare vs. Clintoncare - Ben Smith". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  32. ^ "Hillary Clinton: Excerpts of Remarks on Health Care". Presidency.ucsb.edu. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  33. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-revealed-a-moderate-republican/2011/04/25/AFPrGfkE_story.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204618704576641190920152366.html http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/02/an_interview_with_mark_pauly_t.html http://www.heritage.org/Research/Testimony/Laying-the-Groundwork-for-Universal-Health-Care-Coverage http://volokh.com/2010/03/29/was-the-individual-mandate-a-republican-idea/
  34. ^ Louis, Patrick. "Individual Mandate Unconstitutional, Unenforceable". Heritage.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  35. ^ a b c "Ask the Experts: Individual Mandates" (PDF). Kaiser Family Foundation. January 31, 2008.
  36. ^ http://www.ahip.org/content/default.aspx?bc=31%7C130%7C136%7C22187%7C22215
  37. ^ "Will Insurers Balk At Weakening of Individual Insurance Mandate?". Kaiser Health News. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  38. ^ Moore, Michael (September 29, 2009). "Why the Current Bills Don't Solve Our Health Care Crisis". Huffington Post.
  39. ^ "Obama Deals Stunning Blow to Bank Subsidies on Student Loans, and Sallie Mae Stock Soars | FDL Action". Fdlaction.firedoglake.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  40. ^ http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/focusarea/universal-health-care
  41. ^ "Tells Blue Dog Democrats Not To Be Insurance Company Lapdogs". ConsumerWatchdog.org. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  42. ^ "Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader: A Discussion on Healthcare, Politics and Reform". Democracynow.org. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  43. ^ "Baucus' Plan For The Individual Mandate, And Its Effect On The Family Budget". YouTube. 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  44. ^ "Health Insurance Mandates". Outsidethebeltway.com. September 23, 2009. Retrieved 2012-03-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  45. ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (September 26, 2009). "A Constitutional Debate Over a Health Care Mandate". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  46. ^ "Wisconsin to join U.S. healthcare lawsuit, says Walker". Westlawnews.thomson.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  47. ^ "Court rejects health mandate". StarTribune.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  48. ^ "Virginia judge rules health care mandate unconstitutional". CNN. December 13, 2010.
  49. ^ Davey, Monica (September 29, 2009). "Health Care Overhaul and Mandatory Coverage Stir States' Rights Claims". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  50. ^ Fender, Jessica (December 30, 2009). "Efforts already underway in Colorado to blunt federal health care reforms". Denver Post. http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Kansas-one-of-37-states-challenging-federal/qUmTDv06EkSlykagQW2qKQ.cspx
  51. ^ Conason, Joe (2010-03-25). "So George Washington was a socialist, too! If the individual mandate is unconstitutional, how could our first president require every citizen to buy a gun?". Salon.com. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  52. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (2012-03-23). "Did the Militia Act of 1792 set a precedent for Obama's health insurance mandate?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  53. ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (September 27, 2009). "Court challenge seen in health insurance mandate". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  54. ^ Barnett, Randy. "Commandeering the People: Why the Individual Health Insurance Mandate is Unconstitutional". ssrn.com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  55. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/as-health-care-laws-trial-approaches-two-thirds-say-ditch-individual-mandate/
  56. ^ http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/090729_NBC-WSJ_poll.pdf
  57. ^ http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/06/09/healthcare.pdf
  58. ^ "U.S. Voters Back Public Insurance 2-1, But Won't Use It". Quinnipiac University. July 1, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  59. ^ "Arizona and Oklahoma vote to reject insurance mandate - Sarah Kliff". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  60. ^ Provance, Jim (July 27, 2011). "Health insurance law to get Ohio ballot test". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  61. ^ http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/politics-elections/192549-ohio-voters-reject-health-insurance-mandate http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/11/ohio_voters_say_no_to_health_i.html
  62. ^ "Study: ER Visits By Poor Plummet In Mass". Cbsnews.com. 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  63. ^ Kowalczyk, Liz (April 24, 2009). "ER visits, costs in Mass. climb". The Boston Globe.
  64. ^ Per Capita Personal Health Care Expenditures by Type of Service, Region, and State of Residence: Calendar Year 2004[dead link]
  65. ^ "Health expenditures by state of residence: Summary Tables, 1991-2009" (PDF). cms.gov. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  66. ^ Lazar, Kay (August 22, 2009). "Bay State health insurance premiums highest in country". The Boston Globe.
  67. ^ McDonough, John. "Does Massachusetts Have the Nation's Highest Health Insurance Premiums? It Depends". Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  68. ^ Fuhrmans, Vanessa (September 16, 2009). "Mandated Health Insurance Squeezes Those in the Middle". The Wall Street Journal.
  69. ^ a b The Editors, "Should Health Insurance Be Mandatory?," "Room for Debate" opinion blog, The New York Times, June 4, 2009
  70. ^ Government Accounting Office (September 30, 2003). "Private health insurance: Federal and state requirements affecting coverage offered by small businesses" (PDF). Government Accounting Office. pp. 41–43.
    Georgetown Health Policy Institute (February 2009). "Individual market rate restrictions (not applicable to HIPAA eligible individuals), December 2008". Kaiser Family Foundation. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
    Georgetown Health Policy Institute (February 2009). "Individual market guaranteed issue (not applicable to HIPAA eligible individuals), December 2008". Kaiser Family Foundation. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
    Georgetown Health Policy Institute (February 2009). "Small group health insurance market rate restrictions, January 2009". Kaiser Family Foundation. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
    Codispoti, Lisa; Courtot, Brigette; Swedish, Jen (September 2008). "Nowhere to turn: How the individual health insurance market fails women" (PDF). National Women's Law Center.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    Lazar, Kay (April 26, 2009). "Prickly policies; Age-based pricing for health insurance has some consumers cutting back on coverage". The Boston Globe. p. 1 (Business).
    Appleby, Julie (August 31, 2009). "Health insurance: How much more should older people pay?". Kaiser Health News.
  71. ^ a b c http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/85466/E92927.pdf
  72. ^ a b c T.R. Reid (April 14, 2008). "Japanese Pay Less for More Health Care" Morning Edition (NPR). Accessed August 13, 2011.
  73. ^ http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN020063.pdf
  74. ^ "Sick Around The World". FRONTLINE. PBS. 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  75. ^ "Sick around the world". Frontline. April 15, 2008. 17 minutes in. PBS.
  76. ^ http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/96433/E89731.pdf
  77. ^ "Medicare Levy Surcharge". PrivateHealth.gov.au. 2000-05-24. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  78. ^ "Department of Health and Ageing - Private health insurance - glossary of commonly used terms". Health.gov.au. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  79. ^ Robert E. Leu, Frans F. H. Rutten, Werner Brouwer, Pius Matter, and Christian Rütschi (January 2009). The Swiss and Dutch Health Insurance Systems: Universal Coverage and Regulated Competitive Insurance Markets The Commonwealth Fund Accessed August 14, 2011.
  80. ^ Administering Health Insurance Mandates, Steuerle, C E and Van de Water, Paul N. National Academy of Social Insurance
  81. ^ a b Underwood, Anne (September 18, 2009). "Health Care Abroad: Switzerland". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  82. ^ http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/80703/E85472.pdf
  83. ^ http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/80694/E83126.pdf

External links