Myths and Misconceptions about U.S. Healthcare

Several myths about health insurance interfere with the diagnosis of problems in the current system and impede the development of productive reforms. Although many are built on a kernel of truth, complicated issues are often simplified to the point of being false or misleading. Several stem from the conflation of health, health care, and health insurance, while others attempt to use economic arguments to justify normative preferences. We apply a combination of economic principles and lessons from empirical research to examine the policy problems that underlie the myths and focus attention on addressing these fundamental challenges. [Health Affairs 27, no. 6 (2008): w533-w543 (published online 21 October 2008; 10.1377/hlthaff.27.6.w533)]