Since the late 1980s many US states have sought to incrementally reform their health insurance markets. The intent of such reform has been quite straightforward: to ensure access to affordable health insurance by addressing insurer practices perceived to be exclusionary. In the light of this, a compelling public policy issue is whether these efforts to address disparities in the population's access to health insurance have been successful. This volume provides a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge on insurance market reforms that is accessible to both policymakers and researchers. The contributions provide a critical evaluation of empirical research findings, applied methodologies, and policy implications associated with state reform of small group and individual insurance markets. With contributions from internationally respected health economists, as well as industry, regulatory, and consumer representatives, this book will prove to be a useful read for all those with an interest in the economics of healthcare.

In this volume, leading American health economists provide a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge of insurance market reform that is accessible to both policy-makers and researchers.