Insuring America's Health

According to the Census Bureau, in 2003 more than 43 million Americans lackedhealth insurance. Being uninsured is associated with a range of adverse health,social, and economic consequences for individuals and their families, for the healthcare systems in their communities, and for the nation as a whole. This report isthe sixth and final report in a series by the Committee on the Consequences ofUninsurance, intended to synthesize what is known about these consequences andcommunicate the extent and urgency of the issue to the public. Insuring America'sHealth recommends principles related to universality, continuity of coverage, affordabilityto individuals and society, and quality of care to guide health insurancereform. These principles are based on the evidence reviewed in the committee's previousfive reports and on new analyses of past and present federal, state, and localefforts to reduce uninsurance. The report also demonstrates how those principlescan be used to assess policy options. The committee does not recommend a specificcoverage strategy. Rather, it shows how various approaches could extend coverageand achieve certain of the committee's principles.