Access & Coverage

An adequate health care system must strive to provide the same access to care to all members of society, regardless of geography, race, gender, age, wealth and status. Access to care is also determined by insurance coverage. The twin challenges of access to care and insurance coverage affect both individual wellness and the viability of our health care system as a whole. For these reasons, our studies on access and coverage are among the most important work we do.

Employer Health Benefits Annual Survey

This annual survey of approximately 2,000 randomly selected employers serves as a key resource for policymakers, employers and health researchers seeking new information about the insurance market.

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Consumer-Driven Health Care

Continually rising health care costs and insurance premiums have created a demand for alternatives to traditional health benefits plans. HRET is studying the pros and cons of one such alternative—consumer-driven health care.

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Emergency Department Overcrowding

The number of emergency departments (EDs) is down from levels in the 1980s, while the number of ED visits is rising. As a result, many communities are experiencing frequent ambulance diversions.

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Medicaid Patients and the Uninsured

A large number of physicians do not accept patients on Medicaid or without health insurance. Recent studies suggest that policy levers used to increase access to physician services are no longer as effective as they once were.

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End-of-Life Studies

Partnering with RAND, HRET is examining discrepancies in life expectancy, cause of death, Medicaid coverage, and costs associated with end-of-life care.

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Publications and Other Resources

HRET's research on Access and Coverage is published in numerous articles, reports, books and more each year.

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