Summary
Clinton's Health Care Reform Proposal: Issues for Employers—After several months of intense preparation, President Clinton officially unveiled to Congress and the nation the American Health Security Act of 1993 on September 22. The details of the long-awaited proposal—originally slated for release in May—were leaked in early September. The basis of the plan is managed competition (see EBRI Issue Brief no. 135, March 1993), with a national budget stopgap to ensure that health care costs do not rise faster than other sectors of the economy. The plan is intended to organize the health care market and create mechanisms to control costs through enhanced competition, consumer choice, administrative simplification, and increased negotiating power through health alliances. While the administration has set January 1, 1997 as a goal for universal implementation of its plan, there has been strong indication that the date is negotiable.
Dual Sources of Group Health Coverage and the Effects of Firm Size on Indirect Coverage—Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) tabulations of the March 1992 Current Population Survey (CPS) show that 9 percent of civilian, noninstitutionalized Americans (13.4 million) were covered by more than one group health plan, and 14.7 percent (36.6 million) were uninsured in 1991. Twelve percent of those with direct group health coverage had a second source of coverage, and 6 percent of those with indirect coverage had two sources of coverage.
Public Attitudes on Health Reform, Results of New EBRI/Gallup Survey—As President Clinton unveils his proposal for health care reform in the United States, Americans are revealing their opinions on what health care reform should include, according to a new public opinion survey conducted by EBRI and The Gallup Organization, Inc.