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Part of the book series: Biomedical Ethics Reviews ((BER))

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Abstract

Over the past two years the debate has reemerged over whether or not the US ought to replace its current patchwork system for financing access to health care with some system of national health insurance.1 This debate last occurred in the mid-1970s, but it was effectively squelched by a worsening economy and escalating health care costs that made national health insurance seem unaffordable. Growth of more than 25% in the ranks of those without any health insurance during the decade of the eighties has renewed this debate. Currently, there are about 37 million Americans without any health insurance. Most are poor, but employed—70% of them are employed more than twenty hours per week. But these are generally low-paying service sector jobs for small employers who cannot afford to provide health benefits.

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Notes and References

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Fleck, L.M. (1991). How Just Must We Be?. In: Humber, J.M., Almeder, R.F. (eds) Biomedical Ethics Reviews · 1990. Biomedical Ethics Reviews. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0471-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0471-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6776-8

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