Problems in financing the care of AIDS patients.

The problem of financing the care of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has reached crisis proportions. How will the United States cope with paying for the care of AIDS patients, many of whom either are denied private insurance or simply do not have money to pay for medical care? This article discusses how each component of the U.S. health care financing system is attempting to minimize its financial exposure to AIDS. It presents remedies that have been suggested in the literature. Finally, it points out the flaws in the current system for dealing with people who suffer from catastrophic illnesses.