Thinking about Health: Big questions underlie debate about making health care accessible to all

In recent days, several tweets shared ominous news about the state of health insurance in the country. One woman tweeted she bought an Affordable Care Act policy for a $1,200 monthly premium and a $7,500 deductible. By May, she said, she could no longer afford that premium.

Another tweeted her 59-year-old friend would be paying $900 a month in premiums with an out-of-pocket maximum of $8,150. The friend has assets, but the insurance restricts where she can get care, a common policy feature.

A third tweet said he was disgusted with his job-based coverage, which he told the world was his fifth i...