Recent Trends and Innovations in Individual Hospital Insurance by M. Eugene Blumenfeld [Discussion]

Mr. Blumenfeld's paper has presented an insight into the problems faced by a rapidly expanding health insurance industry and outlined methods for overcoming these problems. The substantial increase in medical costs coupled with the extremely rapid growth of health insurance coverage during the past few years, makes this paper very timely. He has recommended a return to sounder insurance principles plus an extension of coverage to every person in our society. Methods for providing true insurance protection against the hazard of financial catastrophe caused by severe disability, a satisfactory program for pre-paid medical care for those who must exist on a restricted budget, and adequate protection for those persons who, because of age or health conditions, are, or will become, substandard health risks are outlined in a discussion of seven plans of insurance.