As medical technology has developed, life spans have increased and the quality of life has improved.
These improvements come at a cost; medical expenses for society as a whole have risen dramatically
over the last 100 years.
A small number of people experience serious illness or injury each year, and for these few the financial
burden of their medical care would be very difficult to bear. Health insurance is the mechanism by which
the financial risk of injury or serious illness is spread over a large group of people.
In the United States, health insurance is provided mainly by employers, with government programs for the
elderly (Medicare) and the poor (Medicaid).
Approximately 15% of Americans lack health insurance and extending coverage
to this group is one of the most important and difficult health policy challenges we face today.
