This work was undertaken to describe the basic elements of the Polish healthcare system and to examine possibilities for adoption of solutions existing in healthcare systems of other countries of the European Union. Healthcare systems were analyzed as to their model features and general directions of reform. Current problems, as well as attempts and concepts for reform of the Polish healthcare ...

This study examines working-age Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries who report having work goals or expectations, referring to these individuals as "work-oriented." The study uses data from the 2004 National Beneficiary Survey matched to administrative data spanning 2004-2007 to identify work-oriented beneficiaries and to analyze their sociodemogr...

This paper deals with the role of insurance for damages from catastrophic events. Prior to the attack of September 11, 2001, insurers typically provided coverage for losses from terrorism and those from almost all other causes. These causes were thought by the industry to be of sufficiently low probability and were not a reason for making changes in premiums, underwriting, or reserves. In times...

Several elements of the French health system--the predominance of office-based medical practice, the mix of private and public hospitals, the use of patient cost sharing, direct payment of physicians by patients, and financing derived from payroll taxes--closely resemble aspects of the U.S. health system. There are four major differences between the two systems: the French system covers more th...

 Schemes that make use of ex-ante risk transfer instruments, including indemnity and index-based insurance and insurance-linked securities (e.g. catastrophe bonds, catastrophe swaps, and weather hedges).  Schemes where the public sector, the private sector or both (as public-private partnerships) play a role in their set up and operation.  Schemes that have been implemented (fully operationa...

COVERAGE OF the Nation’s aged population by the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program has expanded rapidly in recent years. By February 1960 an estimated 10.1 million persons aged 65 and over-646 of every 1,000 persons in that age group-were receiving benefits under that program. Largely as a result of the increasing financial protection afforded the aged population by oldage, su...

The general status of the health care (HC) system in the Czech Republic has been determined by a quite radical and rapid reform process that started in the early 90s. It was shaped by the relatively high capacities of the old Czech HC system and a widely shared willingness to increase HC resources in the first year of the reform. The reform itself has introduced a new system of public health in...

Canadians obtain prescription drug coverage through a patchwork of public insurance, private benefit plans and out-of-pocket payments. Prior evidence suggests that insurance coverage, in general, leads to higher utilization rates of essential medicines; it is unclear whether individuals with private insurance have better access to medicines. Using data from the 2008 Canadian Community Health Su...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recent policy changes have affected access to health insurance for families in the United States. Private health insurance premiums have increased, and state Medicaid programs have cut back coverage for adults. Concurrently, the Children's Health Insurance Program has made public insurance available to more children. We aimed to better understand how child and parent h...