The Subcommittee examined financial impacts on individuals, families, and the national economy, using information developed by the Committee in its first four reports. It developed a conceptual framework to help identify and estimate the general magnitude of societal economic costs incurred as a result of the incomplete coverage of the U.S. population by health insurance. The Subcommittee investigated and reported on the direct costs of providing health care to the uninsured, increased costs resulting from the inefficient use of health services, and the indirect costs of preventable disability and lost productivity among uninsured persons, to the extent that reliable data support such findings. The report explores who bears the costs due to uninsurance, including out-of-pocket payments by the uninsured and their families, uncompensated care by health care providers and institutions, taxes and tax expenditures by all levels of government, higher health insurance premiums to support cost shifting, philanthropic support and the indirect costs of disability and reduced productivity on business operations.

The Subcommittee served an 18-month term, extending from April 2002 to August 2003.   More information on this subcomittee