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As baby-boomers begin to retire and health care spending continues to outpace income growth, Medicare faces a dire financial future. Critics from the left and right criticize the costly Medicare program variously for gaps in coverage or bureaucratic rigidity. All agree that Medicare requires reform—and soon.
To help guide the debate that will precede this reform, Henry J. Aaron and Jeanne M. Lambrew have written Reforming Medicare: Options, Tradeoffs, and Opportunities. Outlining three broad approaches to reform—strengthened social insurance, premium choice and consumer-directed health care—the authors present the strengths and weaknesses of each and recommend a blended approach.
On July 30, the authors will be joined by advocates of each of the three reform strategies. Robert Berenson of the Urban Institute will argue that the social insurance framework should be retained. Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, will suggest the desirability of allowing Medicare beneficiaries to choose among competing insurance plans. And Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute will defend consumer-directed health insurance under which individuals are covered by high-deductible insurance and have health savings accounts. E.J. Dionne, Jr. of the Washington Post and Brookings will chair the event.
After the program, participants will take audience questions.
Participants
Introduction and Moderator
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies
Featured Speakers
Senior Fellow, Economic Studies
Jeanne M. Lambrew
University of Texas
Robert Berenson
The Urban Institute
Karen Ignagni
America’s Health Insurance Plans
Michael Tanner
The Cato Institute
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Taking Note
