Abstract
Insurance for hospital care in the United States covers more than three-quarters of the population and pays more than half of hospital bills paid from private income. Benefits to many insured persons are minimal and some bene fits important to health are not regularly provided. Coinsur ance, deductibles, experience rating, and costs of nongroup commercial insurance limit the effectiveness of coverage. Hospital costs are rising. Hospital costs can be kept within bounds by insurance benefits and payments designed to encour age quality of care, community review and control through planning and licensure, review and control of unnecessary hos pital utilization and construction, and by recognition of the importance of organization of medical care as a method of promoting quality and curtailing costs.
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