In this volume, leading American health economists provide a critical assessment of the current state of knowledge of insurance market reform that is accessible to both policy-makers and researchers.

This report provides background information about the private health insurance market, including market segments and regulation. It then describes each ACA market reform, grouped under the following categories: obtaining coverage, keeping coverage, cost of purchasing coverage, covered services, cost-sharing limits, consumer assistance and other health care protections, and plan requirements related to health care providers.

Between 1987 and 1991, the portion of Americans covered by individually purchased health insurance dropped 40per cent. Assuming the US will continue to rely on private financing for health care, the author clarifies benefits to society from an efficient health insurance market.