Pride, prejudice, and health insurance.

• Author: Krugman, Paul
• Position: OPINION - Brief Article

Employment-based health insurance is in decline. Between 2000 and 2004, the number of Americans under 65 rose by 10 million, yet the number of nonelderly Americans covered by employment-based insurance fell by 4.9 million. The solution--national health insurance, available to everyone--is obvious. But to see the obvious we'll have to overcome pride--the unwarranted belief that the U.S. has nothing to learn from other countries--and prejudice--the unwarranted belief that private insurance is more efficient than public insurance. It's a fact that America's health-care...