Employer-based health insurance practiced in the United States today creates insecurity for American workers and saddles American companies with high costs that undermine their competitiveness against international firms. Few would argue the system needs serious reform, yet opinions on appropriate solutions differ widely.
In his new book, health policy expert Roger Battistella of the Dept. of Policy Analysis and Management at the Cornell College of Human Ecology warns that shortcomings inherent in a government-run insurance model would more than likely encourage over-consumption, drive up costs, and ultimately fail. Dr. Battistella argues the time has come for a pragmatic approach to health care reform based on sound market principles and greater transparency to encourage wise consumer choices that seek out good value.