If Americans want mandated health care coverage, it would be possible for individual states to provide it to them. But almost none of them do.

Mitt Romney assuredly expanded coverage in his state, but the result was faster-than-average growth in the state’s health expenditures and faster-than-average growth in the burden of health spending relative to the state’s income.

The latest Census figures show the United States now has 49.9 million uninsured, an increase of nearly 1 million over the preceding year. Both in terms of absolute numbers and the percentage of Americans without coverage, this is the highest figure recorded since the Bureau began asking questions about health insurance in its annual survey three decades ago.

The State Children"s Health Insurance Program debate presages a broader fight over how to achieve "universal" insurance coverage.

Ezekiel Emanuel reminded New York Times readers last week of something health economists have known for eight decades. Health expenditures are highly concentrated, with just 10 percent of the population accounting for nearly two-thirds of annual health spending.

How will pending legislation determine the cost and availability of health insurance? Will it advantage some people over others?

This week, a grassroots organization in Massachusetts announced plans to launch a ballot initiative to repeal the state's individual mandate to purchase health insurance. Massachusetts Citizens for Life is primarily concerned about how the growing cost of health care in the state will lead to rationing and denial of care.

How out-of-pocket health spending added 10 million people to the ranks of the poor.