The Economics of Health and Health Care (6th Edition)

This is a good book to introduce you with the basic concepts of health economics. The text is heavily reliant on microeconomics, and though it gives some overview in the first two chapters it really helps to understand basic micro before reading this book. Overall, a good book, but a bit outdated. With the latest developments in health care reform you may want to purchase the newer version.

It could have been because my teacher asked us very ambiguous questions, but this book was not very helpful when trying to apply its basic examples to broader concepts. It spent too little time on important topics (how doctors and hospitals force a nursing shortage, etc.) and too much time on special topics. I'd recommend purchasing the old version over the newer version though. It's just the same.

This book is divided into 6 parts and 25 chapters. It provides an interesting introducton on issues related to the scope of health economics before discussing the important topic of demand and supply. I have found chapter 4 very useful since it provides a good insight of economic evaluation, with the discussion related to cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility and cost-minimization analysis. During this period characterized by the deficits of health care, the reader will find useful information in chapter related to health insurance, managed care, consumer preference, etc that provide knowledge required for planning and policy-making.

I chose this rating because, contrary to my expectation of a "very good" book as marked on it online, what I received was a complete departure from "very good".There were uncountable lines of red, blue and black pen marks in nearly every page of the book in addition to colored ink marks in several pages as well, apparently to highlight author's points/information in the book. Those developments rendered the book extremely untidy.More so, paying a total price of $71+ (inclusive of shipping) for a book that my classmates bought at $43.99 made my sense of disadvantage even worse. Honestly, I felt cheated! It may be necessary for Amazon to exercise more oversight on items sold under its label. I'm strongly considering the idea of returning the book back to the seller, as soon as I see an alternative copy.I'll recommend the book to anybody.

I bought this 5th edition book used for ~9.00 with shipping instead of spending the 150.00 for the new 6th edition. So far from what I can tell it is 99.8% the same- for the questions and text. I have had no problem following what the prof. has assigned and the material covered by using this book instead. Shipping was fast and book was in the condition as stated in the description, or better.

Clear and comprehensible analysis of health care issues. A textbook that requires some patience to digest. Helpful to understand us health policy.

Kindof a boring read but it was required for one of my classes.

Good book to develop the conceptual understanding of how health can be viewed as a product of both individual production and individual consumption.

The book was a bit torn.I like the cover though.It required some gluing before shipping to stick the pages together