This course will explore the history, structure and politics around health insurance in the U.S. The course will include policy analyses of health insurance with a focus on the underlying policy, political and philosophical issues related surrounding the financing reform debate in private health insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, the course will provide an overview of the basic features of private health insurance: from rating and underwriting practices, to operational challenges and requirements, to cost and quality controls. Some comparison will also be provided to international systems as a means for better understanding the unique aspects of the American system.
