This report provides data on the state of U.S. health care at the start of
the new century. It reveals increasing numbers of uninsured and underinsure
d Americans; increasing costs for health insurance, health care services, a
nd medicines; and increasing inequalities in health and in access to health
care. The author also provides data on the current state of the pharmaceut
ical and health service industries, including Medicaid and Medicare HMOs. T
he results of some opinion polls on health care, conducted among physicians
and the general public, are also summarized.