The Mitchell bill starts off well. It would provide universal coverage over time, trying a voluntary approach first, followed by mandates if necessary. And it would seek to control costs through a variety of market reforms.
Mr. Mitchell's bill provides subsidies for low-income families to buy coverage on their own or through purchasing cooperatives. If these reforms do not reduce the number of uninsured below 5 percent of the population, the bill would trigger a process leading to an employer mandate -- a requirement that employers pay at least 50 percent of their workers' premiums. These provisions, as President Clinton has said, provide the rudiments of universal coverage and market reform.