Healthcare reform is a general rubric used for discussing major health policy creation or changes—for the most part, governmental policy that affects healthcare delivery in a given place. Healthcare reform typically attempts to:

• Broaden the population that receives health care coverage through either public sector insurance programs or private sector insurance companies
• Expand the array of health care providers consumers may choose among
• Improve the access to health care specialists
• Improve the quality of health care
• Decrease the cost of health care

The Netherlands See also Health care in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has introduced a new system of health care insurance based on risk equalization through a risk equalization pool. In this way, a compulsory insurance package is available to all citizens at affordable cost without the need for the insured to be assessed for risk by the insurance company. Indeed health insurers are now willing to take on high risk individuals because they receive compensation for the higher risks .

A 2008 article in the journal Health Affairs suggested that the Dutch health system, which combines mandatory universal coverage with competing private health plans, could serve as a model for reform in the US.

A video (in Dutch and English) is available which explains the reforms. Subtitles in English are available by clicking the 'T' control on the video control after clicking this link.