Managed Competition

Published February 2000

A fundamental restructuring of the US healthcare system to make consumers more cost-conscious. Most Americans would get health insurance though Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives, which would drive hard bargains with a variety of insurers and providers. Some plans would be health maintenance organizations that limit choice of doctors and hospitals but other might still offer traditional fee-for-service coverage. The cooperative would determine what the best price for a comprehensive benefits package defined by a National Health Board. Consumers would bear the extra cost of added benefits and might be taxed on the value of benefits above the minimum.