Uninsured Numbers Can Be Reduced

The number of Americans without health insurance can be reduced by more than 50% in the next 10 years, according to results from a recent Commonwealth Fund survey. Most respondents — experts in health care practice and policy — believe that employer-sponsored insurance should continue to provide coverage for most people under 65 years of age.

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation supporting independent research on health and social issues that makes grants to improve health care practice and policy. It works to help individuals become more informed about their health care and improve care for vulnerable populations, including children, elderly individuals, low-income families, minority Americans, and the uninsured.

The survey also indicated respondents' levels of support for several policy efforts to improve insurance coverage:

• 82% favor employer incentives to provide a minimum insurance standard and tax credits or other subsidies for low-wage workers;
• 70% support a requirement that employers who do not provide health benefits pay into a fund to insure workers and their families;
• 60% would permit employers to buy into Medicaid or children's health insurance programs for their employees;
• 42% support replacing employer coverage with a single-payer plan;
• 33% favor association health plans for small employers and the self-employed;
• 22% support health savings accounts as a policy option for expanding coverage.

For more information, visit www.cmwf.org/surveys/surveys_show.htm?doc_id=263060