Many Europeans believe that health care in the U.S. is entirely delivered through the private sector in a largely unregulated free market. However, health care financing and delivery are in fact characterized by significant government involvement, both through large public sector programs that finance health benefits for more than 100 million Americans and through a private sector that is highly regulated by the states.

This report profiles who the uninsured are, describes the safety net programs, and explains new ideas that are being offered to increase access to health insurance while providing new incentives for the market to offer better, more affordable health care.