Health insurance 'mandate' deemed best value for money

Updated:

HealthMore>>
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.
8 all-natural allergy remedies
8 all-natural allergy remedies
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.
Possible link between certain sunscreens, endometriosis
Possible link between certain sunscreens, endometriosis
A preliminary study links chemicals found in certain sunscreens to a higher risk of endometriosis.
A preliminary study links chemicals found in certain sunscreens to a higher risk of endometriosis, but it's too soon to say whether there's any reason for women to change their habits.
Being obese may make job search tougher
Being obese may make job search tougher
It was the small square photo clipped to an applicant's resume that most influenced whether a woman would be hired.
It was the small square photo clipped to an applicant's resume that most influenced whether a woman would be hired. But there was a hidden catch: The pictures showed the same six women both before and after weight-loss.
Could nasal spray of 'love hormone' treat autism?
Could nasal spray of 'love hormone' treat autism?
Children with autism given a squirt of a nasal spray containing the hormone oxytocin showed more activity in brain regions involved with processing social information.
Children with autism given a squirt of a nasal spray containing the hormone oxytocin showed more activity in brain regions known to be involved with processing social information, a small study found.
Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis
Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis
Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis, new research says.
Dinosaurs may have suffered from arthritis, new research says.
FDA panel to consider at-home HIV test
FDA panel to consider at-home HIV test
Should Americans be able to buy a test at the drugstore and use it to determine whether they're infected with the virus that causes AIDS?
Should Americans be able to buy a test at the drugstore and use it to determine whether they're infected with the virus that causes AIDS?
Does your child have seasonal allergies or a cold?
Does your child have seasonal allergies or a cold?
It can be difficult during the spring months for parents to determine whether their children have a cold or seasonal allergies.
It can be difficult during the spring months for parents to determine whether their children have a cold or seasonal allergies, but an expert outlines how to tell the difference.

DiabetesMore>>
Diabetes can take a toll on your emotions
Diabetes can take a toll on your emotions
Many people know diabetes -- both type 1 and type 2 -- can take a serious toll on physical health. But these blood-sugar disorders also can affect your emotions.
Many people know diabetes -- both type 1 and type 2 -- can take a serious toll on physical health. But these blood-sugar disorders also can affect your emotions.
Could eating fast increase diabetes risk?
Could eating fast increase diabetes risk?
Eating too quickly may raise your risk of diabetes, a small, preliminary study suggests.
Eating too quickly may raise your risk of diabetes, a small, preliminary study suggests.
Value of metformin, insulin combo for type 2 diabetes questioned
Value of metformin, insulin combo for type 2 diabetes questioned
It's not clear whether patients with type 2 diabetes gain any long-term benefit from taking the blood sugar-lowering drug metformin and insulin together rather than insulin alone.
Diabetes groups issue new guidelines on blood sugar
Diabetes groups issue new guidelines on blood sugar
Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder, and treating the disease often requires a personalized, multi-pronged approach, say new expert guidelines on treating high blood sugar levels, issued Thursday.
Disrupted sleep may raise risk for obesity, diabetes
Disrupted sleep may raise risk for obesity, diabetes
Sleep deprivation, in combination with disrupted "body clock" rhythms, could result in some of the changes to a person's metabolism that can foreshadow both obesity and diabetes, researchers report.
Weight-loss surgeries may beat standard treatments for diabetes
Weight-loss surgeries may beat standard treatments for diabetes
A new international analysis comparing weight-loss procedures to standard diabetes treatments contends that surgery is more effective at helping people combat type 2 diabetes.
As white rice intake rises, so may your risk for diabetes
As white rice intake rises, so may your risk for diabetes
People who eat white rice on a regular basis have a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, a new international analysis contends.
Type of bacteria may be linked to diabetes
Type of bacteria may be linked to diabetes
There may be a link between H. pylori bacteria and type 2 diabetes in adults, according to a new study.
High heels can bring on ingrown toenails
High heels can bring on ingrown toenails
High heels and other snug-fitting or pointed shoes are a leading cause of ingrown toenails, according to podiatrists.
Experimental drug shows promise against type 2 diabetes
Experimental drug shows promise against type 2 diabetes
An experimental drug improves patients' blood sugar control without increasing the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to the results of a phase 2 clinical trial.

THURSDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Doing away with the U.S. health care reform act's requirement that all Americans must have health insurance would not dramatically increase the cost of buying policies through new insurance exchanges, but would significantly reduce the number of people who get insurance, according to researchers.

The findings from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, are based on estimates created using a computer model. The investigators found that eliminating the so-called "individual mandate" would increase a person's cost of buying insurance by 2.4 percent and reduce the number of Americans who would get new health coverage in 2016 from 27 million to 15 million.

"Our analysis suggests eliminating the individual mandate would sharply decrease coverage, but it would not send premiums into a 'death spiral' that would make health insurance unaffordable to those who do not qualify for government subsidies," study lead author Christine Eibner, an economist at RAND, said in a news release from the organization.

The analysis also found that repealing the individual mandate would greatly increase the amount of government spending for each person newly enrolled in a health insurance plan. The cost would more than double, to $7,468 per person.

"The individual mandate is critical not only to achieving near-universal health care coverage among Americans, but also to yielding a high value in terms of federal spending to expand coverage," Eibner said. "Without the individual mandate, the government would have to spend more overall to insure a lot fewer people."

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in March about the constitutionality of requiring all Americans to obtain health insurance.

More information

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality explains how to get good value when choosing a health plan.

More about the economyMore>>
JPMorgan Chase trading fiasco: What to do about big banks?
JPMorgan Chase trading fiasco: What to do about big banks?
JPMorgan's loss of $2 billion shows that the forces that unleashed the recession remain partially untamed -- and that Congress is still struggling to get a handle on the solution.
JPMorgan's loss of $2 billion shows that the forces that unleashed the recession remain partially untamed -- and that Congress is still struggling to get a handle on the solution.
JP Morgan $2 billion loss stirs memories of 2008 crisis
JP Morgan $2 billion loss stirs memories of 2008 crisis
JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon dubs losses 'egregious,' but market analysts expect that, this time, the damage will not spread to the entire financial system.
JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon dubs losses 'egregious,' but market analysts expect that, this time, the damage will not spread to the entire financial system.
Fed study rejects standard explanations for housing bubble
Fed study rejects standard explanations for housing bubble
The most popular beliefs as to what caused the U.S. mortgage crisis and subsequent economic collapse are wrong, according to a new study by the Boston Fed.
The most popular beliefs as to what caused the U.S. mortgage crisis and subsequent economic collapse are wrong, according to a new study by the Boston Fed.
May Day: Can Occupy Wall Street spring back to life?
May Day: Can Occupy Wall Street spring back to life?
Occupy Wall Street has big plans for May Day, including marches and strikes, but faces big challenges.
Occupy Wall Street has big plans for May Day, including marches and strikes, but faces big challenges: It is still largely decentralized, and has lost its hold on the support of the public.
Credit cards: How to save $400 at the pump
Credit cards: How to save $400 at the pump
Credit cards with gas rewards can be a big help in coping with high gas prices.
Credit cards with gas rewards can be a big help in coping with high gas prices. The most effective credit cards could save you $400 at the pump.
Senate staves off postal Armageddon with USPS reform bill
Senate staves off postal Armageddon with USPS reform bill
Postal bill averts 3,700 post-office closings for at least two years.
Postal bill averts 3,700 post-office closings for at least two years, but fails to address deeper, structural problems in how the postal service manages a vast operation.
Postal Service closings? System faces cash crunch. Again.
Postal Service closings? System faces cash crunch. Again.
Postal Service closings could mean longer lines and possibly slower delivery.
Postal Service closings could mean longer lines and possibly slower delivery. But the alternative to Postal Service closings would mean using tax money.
The future of Medicare: Why you should be worried
The future of Medicare: Why you should be worried
You might want to start preparing for retirement now.
Younger generations might want to start preparing for retirement now. Some things may not last that much longer
Best Buy names the 50 stores to close; Includes 19 in 3 states
Best Buy names the 50 stores to close; Includes 19 in 3 states
Electronics retail giant Best Buy has named the 50 stores it plans to close as it struggles in the face of tough competition from e-commerce giants such as Amazon.
New CFPB borrower protections proposed
New CFPB borrower protections proposed
New rules to provide consumers with greater protections in dealing with their mortgage servicers have been put forward by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

KOMO 4 |Health insurance 'mandate' deemed best value for money

Health insurance 'mandate' deemed best value for money

HealthMore>>

DiabetesMore>>

More about the economyMore>>