The Relation between Universal Health Insurance and Cost Control

The failure of national health care reform in 1994 had too many causes to list. But surely one was doubt that costs could be controlled and coverage expanded simultaneously. That doubt became the fear that most Americans would lose as a result of reform. That fear, however, was based on a misconception of the workings of our health care system. In fact, cost control and universal coverage not only can be combined, but they should be. Last year's failure was unnecessary as well as tragic.Every nation whose economic level approaches that of the United States ensures broad health coverage . . .