Major overhaul of health insurance unlikely

Americans have high hopes for changes to the nation's health insurance system in order to provide more people with coverage and lower costs. But the healthcare reform plan presented by President-elect Barack Obama during his campaign called for only modest changes, not a radical overhaul. That was a wise move, according to a paper published online in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior . The study, by an international team of medical and political sociologists, explored the healthcare systems in 21 countries and concluded that it's difficult for any country to make big changes to its system because of history and long-standing traditions that created the system. The study found that many countries wish for change in their healthcare systems, but changes usually come about incrementally and are unique to the country and its people. For example, U.S. residents who were surveyed were less likely that people from other countries to agree that government should be responsible for healthcare ... (link)