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The State Healthcare Debate
ResumeAs health care costs continue to rise and employer-based insurance coverage continues to shrink, more and more Americans are living without health insurance. It's a problem that afflicts the working poor and a growing share of the middle class.
Now a number of states — from California to Illinois to Connecticut — are working to expand access to health coverage. In Massachusetts a controversial plan — both generous and tough — would require most businesses to provide health insurance to their employees and require all residents to buy health insurance. The ambitious goal: to cover virtually all of the state's half-million uninsured residents.
Can it work? Can it solve a problem that Washington has turned its back on?
Hear how the states are tackling the crisis of the uninsured.
Guests:
Alan Weil, Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy
Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute
John McDonough, Executive Director of Massachusett's-based Health Care For All
Bill Waczak, CEO of Codman Square Health Center in Boston.
This program aired on November 18, 2005.