Employment-Based Health Benefits Under Univeral Coverage

May/June 2008
Health Affairs, Vol. 27, No. 3
Paul B. Ginsburg

In the context of proposals for universal coverage, a key emerging issue is the role of employer-sponsored coverage. Such coverage has been slowly eroding and has been criticized for providing little meaningful plan choice. Increased reliance on the individual insurance market in its present form is unlikely to meet society’s goals, but directing those without access to employer coverage who receive subsidies to regional insurance exchanges could make such coverage much more attractive. But real-world experience with such a reform is needed before considering the substitution of individual coverage for employer-based coverage.

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