Is affordable health coverage possible in the United States? While many ideas are being shared and argued over in the name of health care reform, it can be next to impossible for the average person to know what the best options for affordable medical insurance are. One idea is to create a publicly funded insurance pool to help provide affordable health coverage to the uninsured. Other people are in favor of the opposite approach - market based policies.

What are Market-Based Policies?

Market-based medical insurance policies look to the private sector for insurance coverage rather than the government. Supporters of market-based policies believe they are the only way to give the consumer control and choice, as well as fostering competition to keep costs down and quality high. Why are Market-Based Policies Better than Publicly Funded Health Care Policies? Market-based policies are more cost effective for the government - and therefore the taxpayers- than publicly funded healthcare. According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 2005, if every uninsured individual was covered by a government program such as Medicaid, the cost to the federal and state governments is approximately $2000 each. If, however, low-income and modest-income Americans could purchase their own health insurance by utilizing a $1000 tax credit, the federal government would save 50% of that money. With over 45 million uninsured Americans, that savings would be substantial indeed.