Controlling Costs by “Managed Competition” -- Would It Work?

In an editorial four years ago I suggested that universal health insurance was an idea whose time had come1. That prediction may have been a little premature -- but now, with the election of a president strongly committed to health care coverage for all, early legislative action seems very likely. However, Mr. Clinton clearly understands there can be no universal insurance without effective cost controls. Virtually all experts now agree that cost control is the key. The central task is to slow or stop the relentless inflation of costs, while making necessary services available to all and preserving or . . .