Educaid: what if the US systems of education and health care were more alike?

Abstract

What if access to an education in the United States required insurance, leaving millions of children without a school? Would public insurance for education--Educaid look like public insurance for medical care--Medicaid? This essay describes a fictional education system analogous to our current health care system as a means to highlight some of US health care's failings. It incorporates real comments from parents whom we have interviewed about their experiences gaining access to health care services for their children. My purpose is to challenge each reader to consider the future for both the US education and health care systems, the urgent need for reform, and how major reforms might affect our children.