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Health care: the individual mandate
One feature of President Obama's proposed health plan is a mandate requiring all individuals to have health insurance. But as health care legislation makes its way through the Senate this week, support for an individual mandate isn't evenly split along party lines. Some critics argue that a mandate would be a financial burden for those with low incomes, while others say that it would be ineffective at lowering health care costs. What are the pros and cons of requiring everyone to have insurance?
One feature of President Obama's proposed health plan is a mandate requiring all individuals to have health insurance. But as health care legislation makes its way through the Senate this week, support for an individual mandate isn't evenly split along party lines. Some critics argue that a mandate would be a financial burden for those with low incomes, while others say that it would be ineffective at lowering health care costs. What are the pros and cons of requiring everyone to have insurance?
Guest:
Shana Alex Lavarreda, Director of Health Insurance Studies and Research Scientist at UCLA's Center for Health Policy Research