Extra subsidies for health insurance, which had been boosted during Covid, are set to expire in December, and the political debate over what to do encapsules Washington’s current dilemma. Democrats desperately want to continue extra tax subsidies for people who get coverage through the Obamacare exchanges. Already-inflated health insurance premiums will spike for millions of people when the … [Read more...] about Desperate maneuvering
Important Work 
Our colleagues are doing good and important work to advance health freedom. A few highlights: The HSA OptionBrian Blase, et alParagon Health InstituteJune 22, 2022 Brian and colleagues explain in this new Paragon paper an “HSA Option” to allow lower-income Americans enrolled in ACA exchanges another way to access their subsidy. Instead of having all of the … [Read more...] about Important Work 
More Junk Science 
The strategy of the left is quite transparent in building the case for government-run health care. They take advantage of every opportunity to drag more and more people into government programs. But they also produce targeted studies to attempt to besmirch patient-centered, free-market options. AEI Senior Fellow Tom Miller writes about another case in point: … [Read more...] about More Junk Science 
How Washington makes it worse
Many of the problems in our health sector result from misguided, even if well-intended, laws that lead to mountains of rules and regulations that distort a functional health sector. Washington forces doctors, hospitals, and others to follow its dictates rather than respond to the needs of the American people for quality, affordable care and coverage. Case in point: Senate … [Read more...] about How Washington makes it worse
Fighting the Illegal Family Glitch Fix
I wrote in my newsletter on Friday about the Biden administration’s attempt to further expand Obamacare through an illegal regulatory action to try to “fix” the “family glitch.” Galen and Heritage Senior Fellow Doug Badger took the lead in writing a comment letter opposing the rule, with feedback and help from Paragon President Brian Blase. We submitted the … [Read more...] about Fighting the Illegal Family Glitch Fix
Two bad ideas
The Biden administration is aggressively pushing to expand government-controlled health coverage on two fronts. While we continue to develop and refine ideas that advance freedom and patient choice, we must warn policymakers of the dangers of further expansion of taxpayer-financed, deficit-expanding entitlement programs, especially: ACA Tax Credits: As part of a COVID relief package … [Read more...] about Two bad ideas
Call for a vote, Mr. Chairman!”
Another day, another testimony on Medicare for All—this time before a hearing chaired by its most passionate advocate, Sen. Bernie Sanders. Prof. Chuck Blahous of George Mason University’s Mercatus Center and I were called by Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee as witnesses to explain the serious problems with his legislation to put the federal government in total control of our health … [Read more...] about Call for a vote, Mr. Chairman!”
Things are Looking Up
The ground is shifting in the health policy debate, my friends. For most of the 25 years I have been working on this issue at the Galen Institute, the key issue has been coverage…coverage…coverage, with growing cries for Medicare for All and universal coverage. But now that virtually all Americans have access to coverage, even if they aren’t signed up, concerns are shifting … [Read more...] about Things are Looking Up