A Political Economy Model

Kimakona, Alena. "A Political Economy Model of Health Insurance Policy." Atlantic Economic Journal 38.1 (2010) : 23. ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. Web. 17 January 2011.

This article presupposes the idea that the current status of health insurance policy in the United States is driven by a tendency toward redistribution. Furthermore, it asserts that the underlying thrust of US health policy is not motivated by compassion for the uninsured but by large US corporations and their employee unions. Because small firms are typically free from the stranglehold of unionization, they tend to be against any sort of mandatory employer-employee cost sharing scheme for insurance coverage. Additionally, the article asserts that a higher degree of unionization in a corporation tends to increase the burden of health care; there is, therefore, a positive relationship between public health coverage and unions (35). Finally, because the general population of the US is more inclined to be against excessive taxation, regulation, and redistribution, there is likely to be a pronounced public resistance to mandatory health insurance coverage.

Levy, Theodore. "Do We Really Want a right to Health Care?" Freeman. 1 May 2010: Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 12 February 2011.

This article addresses the misnomer of the "right" of health care. The author begins by asking if there is a downside through getting health care as a political right versus through a market commodity. He argues that "decisions have to be made about what the 'right' to health care includes." The primary question is addressed in the correct assumption that a "right to health care does not guarantee you'll have all you might want or need" (29). Levy backs up his argument with the boondoggle that is government schools. Just look at the amount of money that has been poured into K-12 education over the past 40 years; government spending "has almost tripled on an inflation-adjusted per capita basis" (29). Unfortunately, there is no corresponding ROI. In fact, national testing shows no improvement in the key areas of math, science, and reading. The government provides "education" but is not "particularly successful at educating students" (29). As evidenced here, there is an inherent risk in making things "rights". "Rights can be modified, restricted, curtailed, or eliminated, depending on the political climate" (31). If you have a disease and the government things the treatment is too risky or expensive, you may have the "right" to health care