Catastrophic Politics: The Rise and Fall of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 1st Edition

by Richard Himelfarb (Author)

2 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0271014661

ISBN-10: 0271014660

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Upon its enactment in July 1988, the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act (MCCA) was hailed as the first major expansion of government health care since the creation of Medicare in 1965. Supported by President Reagan, majorities in both houses of Congress, and the nation's largest senior-citizen interest group, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the legislation effectively plugged many of the holes in the existing Medicare system by providing protection against some but not all catastrophic health care expenses. Additionally, the consensus behind the MCCA appeared to establish a precedent for expanding social insurance in an era of high federal deficits. However, less than eighteen months later, the House and the Senate, responding to a tidal wave of criticism, would vote to repeal virtually all of the legislation.Utilizing varied source materials, including interviews with policymakers and surveys of senior-citizen opinion gathered by the AARP, Richard Himelfarb undertakes a comprehensive analysis of how and why this unprecedented series of events transpired. In the process, he also examines the politics of federal entitlement programs in an era of high deficits and senior citizens' political influence, topics that are of particular interest in light of recent federal attempts to tackle health care reform.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Catastrophic Politics is a jewel of a case study. It takes a mystery of American politics in the 1980s—the rapid rise and fall of so-called Medicare catastrophic legislation—and makes sense of it. Himelfarb writes with welcome clarity, has a fascinating story to tell, and explains why a broad audience ought to know about this political catastrophe. This is one of the best works of a younger scholar in health politics to show up in a very long time.”

—Ted Marmor, Yale University

About the Author

Richard Himelfarb is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hofstra University.

Product details

Publisher : Pennsylvania State University Press; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
Language: : English
Paperback : 144 pages
ISBN-10 : 0271014660
ISBN-13 : 978-0271014661
Item Weight : 10.7 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.36 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,138,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Judy and Don Peters

Comprehensive Description of a tough moment in U.S. healthcare reform.

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2011

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The author summarizes the political and economic environment in which a major attempt to change Medicare took place, what the bill contained, how it was enacted and the negative reaction -- the more people learned about it, the less popular it became. The history of this bill strikes me as similar to what we are experiencing with the healthcare reform enacted in 2009.

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greencoyote

quick read on a relevant topic

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2011

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himelfarb takes you through the drama of the MCCA. how could wildly popular and fairly comprehensive legislation be repealed just 18 months after passing? a cautionary tale for anyone trying to put their finger on the pulse of the people - with interesting corollaries to the "tea-party" response to the Affordable Care Act.

revealed an important piece of political history that i wasn't before aware of - worth giving it a looksee.

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Catastrophic Politics: The Rise and Fall of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 1st Edition

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