Re: "New Name, Same Policy" by Sebastian Mallaby, Feb. 13, '06 To the editors: Health Savings Accounts provide new incentives for people who have been shut out of the system to get health insurance. Consumers can purchase a more affordable, high-deductible health insurance policy that protects them against major medical expenses, and they then can use the savings from … [Read more...] about Response to Sebastian Mallaby colum in The Washington Post
Over to Congress
The big news of the week was the release of the administration's budget for 2007. President Bush gives Congress detailed plans for federal spending priorities, and Congress uses this as its starting point to develop legislation, hold committee hearings, and eventually send bills to the floor of the House and the Senate to spend about $2.8 trillion of our money. (This is an astonishing 11 times … [Read more...] about Over to Congress
High on the Drug Benefit
The AARP, the nation's leading organization for senior citizens, has just released a remarkable new study. Apparently, the new Medicare drug benefit provides a better deal for most seniors than importing drugs from Canada, a practice which the organization has long supported. "How is this possible? Everybody knows that Canadian drug prices are usually far lower than American … [Read more...] about High on the Drug Benefit
High on the Drug Benefit
The AARP, the nation's leading organization for senior citizens, has just released a remarkable new study. Apparently, the new Medicare drug benefit provides a better deal for most seniors than importing drugs from Canada, a practice which the organization has long supported. "How is this possible? Everybody knows that Canadian drug prices are usually far lower than American … [Read more...] about High on the Drug Benefit
Strengthening the Free Market in the Health Sector
President Bush has offered a number of new health policy initiatives designed around four goals: making health care more affordable, allowing health insurance to be more portable, making prices more transparent, and making the whole system more efficient. The goal is to strengthen and energize the private health sector to give people more control and choice in a competitive system. … [Read more...] about Strengthening the Free Market in the Health Sector
Strengthening the Free Market in the Health Sector
President Bush has offered a number of new health policy initiatives designed around four goals: making health care more affordable, allowing health insurance to be more portable, making prices more transparent, and making the whole system more efficient. The goal is to strengthen and energize the private health sector to give people more control and choice in a competitive system. Health … [Read more...] about Strengthening the Free Market in the Health Sector
Supercharged Incentives
The debate is engaged. President Bush, as anticipated, has offered a number of new health policy initiatives designed around four goals: affordability, portability, transparency, and efficiency. Health Savings Accounts are the centerpiece of his agenda, with supercharged tax breaks to encourage people to sign up. Some highlights: Premiums for HSA-compatible insurance would be tax deductible if … [Read more...] about Supercharged Incentives
Response to New York Times Article on Medicare Drug Spending
Dear Editor: Your Feb. 2 article, "Medicare Drug Spending Expected to Be Well Below Estimates," was a powerful rebuttal to critics who claim Part D's market-based approach is failing. As you note, "the intense competition among private insurers" has resulted in lower prices for both medicines and premiums. The drug benefit certainly stumbled out of the gates, … [Read more...] about Response to New York Times Article on Medicare Drug Spending