The November/December 2006 issue of the journal Health Affairs, supported by the California HealthCare Foundation, includes a series of articles exploring the future of employer coverage and trends in private health insurance:

• "The Commercial Health Insurance Industry in an Era of Eroding Employer Coverage," by James Robinson, explores new types of public-private arrangements that were emerging to boost the prospects for private U.S. insurers. In addition, three commentaries are offered by Helen Darling, Marsha Gold, and Robert Hurley.
• "(De)constructing 'Basic' Benefits: Citizens Define the Limits of Coverage," by Marjorie Ginsburg, Susan Dorr Goold, and Marion Danis, examines how Californians responded when given limited resources to construct a minimum coverage plan "below which no one should fall."

Another Health Affairs Web Exclusive article is "Exploring the Public's View on the Health Care System: A National Survey on the Issues and Options" by Marc Berk, Daniel Gaylin, and Claudia Schur.

Conducted in 2006 by a national opinion research firm at the University of Chicago, the survey found that Americans had difficulty making trade-offs to reform the health system and make coverage more available, preferring instead to put the onus on government and employers.

The six articles are available free of charge on the Health Affairs site listed under External Links.