Description: This article presents a view of health care as an economic system, suggests a framework for classifying current criticisms of the system, and offers references for further reading.

Description: A proposal to reform current health care market, from a 'preferred payer' system, in which Medicare and Medicaid pay less than the true cost while others must then pay more, to a 'value for money' system. This would be achieved by requiring providers to bill all patients the same rate for the same services, with a standard bundling format to make all providers' rate differences transparent. Differences between billed charges and what Medicare pays would be made up by the Medicare patient, rather than subsidized by those outside of Medicare.

Description: Article Disparate Origins Of Life And Non-Life Insurances by Beard in The Actuary, February 1979, Volume 13, Number 2

Description: Essay suggests reforms of the U.S. health care system to promote financial soundness, broader access, and efficient operations. These reforms require that each participant in the system – individuals, employers, providers, insurers, and government – give a little.

Description: Discusses the rise of private health insurance in France as the public program declines in its coverage.

Description: Data on morbidity, loss ratios, actual-to-expected continuance rates, and lapse rates for disability insurance, and discussion of the implications with respect to legislation, product design, pricing, underwriting, and marketing. This presentation was made at the 1975 SOA Los Angeles Spring Meeting.

Description: This panel discussion session examines the marketing and pricing considerations of group insurance in the 1980's.

Description: This research report is sponsored by The Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries on the Canadian health care system. Performed by Stéphane Levert, FSA, FCIA, the study (available in French and English) estimated the future costs of the Canadian health care system, assessed the sustainability of the system over a 25-year horizon, and analyzed the implications of the changes to the Canada Health Transfer proposed on Dec. 19, 2011 by the federal government. The report summarizing the findings indicates that, without significant government intervention, the Canadian health care system in its current form is not sustainable.

Description: A rethinking of current provider reimbursement, focusing on incentives instead of simply cutting fees. The recommended 2-pronged approach would feature integrated provider organizations as well as evidence-based decision making organized around episodes of care.

Description: An essay discussing universal access to high quality, low cost health care.