Explaining Health Care Reform: How Might a Reform Plan Be Financed?

One of the key challenges in enacting a health care reform plan is how to finance it among government, employers, and individuals. Of particular concern to policymakers is what effect a health reform plan would have on government spending and the federal budget. President Obama and Congressional leaders have said that any health reform plan should not add to the budget deficit over a 10 year period.

This brief explains the likely sources of added costs under reform, the types of financing measures being considered, and some of the key questions likely to be addressed by how a plan is financed. It is part of a series of briefs providing an overview of key issues and concepts related to health reform.

Issue Brief (.pdf)