Oral

This session will explore the current debate concerning the quest for universal access to health care coverage by examining the issues of costs, quality and access; as well as the framework for catalyzing the political will to get it done. Models for both single payer as well as market based approaches will be explored and contrasted.

Session Objectives: Discuss emerging issues of cost and quality that impact the health insurance coverage debate Articulate the reasons for the lack of political will to date to achieve universal health insurance coverage. Understand the political issues involved in achieving universal coverage in the near term. Discuss two competing models of achieving universal coverage: market based versus single payer.