| Abstract: |
To the Editor: One of the recommendations of Somers (Sept. 27 issue) is to secure the funding of preventive approaches by Medicare.* Although this step is clearly desirable, I believe it will be extraordinarily difficult to achieve, given the current premises underlying medical insurance plans. Since the inception of the Blue Cross–Blue Shield plans in the 1930s, medical insurance was designed to protect the beneficiary from expenses arising from illnesses that were infrequent, unpredictable, and costly to treat. This approach seemed perfectly reasonable in that era. However, over time it became clear that this financing approach was distorting the supply. © 1985, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. |
