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Equity in Health Care Delivery: Some thoughts and an Example

In: Health and Inequality

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  • John E. Roemer

Abstract

Equality of opportunity (EOp) for health is defined and advocated as the right conceptualization of equity in the allocation of health care resources. EOp is contrasted with the traditional view that equity consists in “horizontal equity,” a state in which all persons in a society with similar health needs receive similar amounts of medical resources. We argue the horizontal equity is neither sufficient nor necessary for distributive justice in this domain. The EOp view holds individuals partially responsible for the quality of lifestyle that they live, in so far as it affects their health, but compensates individuals for the effect on health of circumstances beyond their control, including the effect of circumstances on their lifestyle. EOp generally recommends a distribution of medical resources that is more egalitarian than the utilitarianism recommends, but less egalitarian than the (Rawlsian) maximin view recommends. An example is computed to illustrate the difference between opportunity equalizing and utilitarian health delivery policies.

Suggested Citation

  • John E. Roemer, 2013. "Equity in Health Care Delivery: Some thoughts and an Example," Research on Economic Inequality, in: Health and Inequality, volume 21, pages 471-489, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:reinzz:s1049-2585(2013)0000021023
    DOI: 10.1108/S1049-2585(2013)0000021023
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equal opportunity; circumstances; effort; horizontal equity; utilitarianism; I14; D63;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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