A Review of Data on the U.S. Health Sector March 2004

This report presents information on the U.S. health sector in early 2004. It provides data on the insured and uninsured and their access to health care; the increasing costs of care; the increasing social and economic inequalities in health and health care; and the role of corporate money in health care. The author then presents data on the recently passed Medicare prescription drug bill and some updates on Medicare HMOs. The article also includes updates on state legislative action, recent opinion polls on health care conducted among physicians and the general public, and health plans proposed by the presidential candidates (as of early 2004).