The measurement of voluntary health insurance coverage in the United States.

Abstract

MORE THAN four billion dollars-a rate of about 11 million dollars per day-of nation's health care bill will be paid this year through voluntary health insurance programs. With more than 123 million Americans owning some form of this protection, some seven out of each ten persons in country, a significant portion of our population shares in these benefits. The statistics just cited, along with other related data on extent of voluntary health insurance coverage in United States, are published each year by Health Insurance Council. This annual survey, now in its 12th year, has generally become accepted as an authoritative source for information with respect to manner in which Americans choose to finance their health care costs. Statistics from this study are used by various government agencies to develop related research. The data have been quoted in medical, hospital, labor and industry circles, and use is often made of this information before legislative bodies. In view of prominence these data receive, it was felt that an account should he given of method employed in their development. Those engaged in medical economic research, in particular, may find technics described of use both in evaluating published results, as well as in utilizing certain phases for their own investigations. A brief history of survey is first in order. In 1946, at one of early meetings of Conference Committee on Health Insurance, predecessor of Health Insurance Council, with representatives of medical profession, insurance people spoke of the considerable extent of health insurance coverage. The doctors indicated that they had heard a lot of generalities on this subject and would like to know just how many people were covered. Out of this meeting there came an understanding that insurance industry would develop some statistical data on extent of health insurance coverage. The beginnings were, necessarily, crude. Since no single trade association, at that time, represented a significant proportion of business, United States Chamber of Commerce was asked, in 1947, to sponsor a survey of number of persons covered under individual accident and health insurance policies.' The numbers insured through group insurance programs had already been developed since 1940 by Equitable Life Assurance Society2 and, com-