The Healthy Washington Initiative: Blue-Ribbon Process, Red-Herring Result

Abstract:     
This article examines recent health care reform efforts in the state of Washington. The article concludes that although the efforts of the state to increase access and hold down costs are laudable, reform efforts would be more effective if they focused on the manner in which health-care coverage is delivered. The traditional employment-based health-care coverage system does not reflect the changing role of work and employment in our society, particularly among young adults. Young adults are at an increasingly great risk of being uninsured, and require a different health-care coverage delivery system and non-monetary incentives to participate in the system.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 27

Keywords: health-care reform, health insurance

JEL Classification: I18, I11, H51, H72

Accepted Paper Series