Lives at Risk: Single-Payer National Health Insurance Around the World

by John C. Goodman, Gerald L. Musgrave, Devon M. Herrick

Virtually everyone agrees that our health care system needs reform. But what kind of reform? Some want a return to the system that prevailed in the 1950s. Others would like to see the adaptation of the government-run systems prevalent in other countries. The latter, national health insurance or single-payer health insurance, appears to be gaining ground in the United States. Before Americans find themselves participating in a health care system that has failed in every country it was adopted, we should be asking ourselves whether such a system is effective and efficient.

In Lives at Risk , the authors examine the critical failures of national health insurance systems without focusing on minor blemishes or easily correctable problems. In doing so, the purpose is to identify the problems common to all countries with national health insurance and to explain why these problems emerge. Most national health care systems are in a state of sustained internal crisis as costs rise and the stated goals of universal access and quality care are not met. In almost all cases, the reason is the same: the politics of medicine. The problems of government-run health care systems flow inexorably from the fact that they are government-run rather than market driven.

Genres: Health Care

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Davidwmolson]

Very informative of the topic.

[Beth Haynes]

I am currently on a string of books on the subject of health care economics. Although the single payer plan is not currently being pushed, mandatory insurance will lead to the same changes in the end. I want to see what this book has to report about countries that have tried the single payer system.


Read this finally in preparation for a debate. Well written - makes excellent points against the claims of those who support single-payer health care. Relevant today in the era of the ACA - even though this was written to fight off Hillary Care.

Supplies the arguments and the empirical evidence that government medicine does not lead to equal access, does not guarantee a right to health care, and several other myths about the superiority of government medicine over markets.

[Laurie]

This is a great book for someone interested in natinal health care and health insurance.

[Nedland P.]

Goodman is one of the big thinkers in the healthcare debate.