The new Medicare drug benefit for seniors has been criticized as too big, too small and too complicated. What's seldom reported is that it is a novel system designed to stimulate private sector competition in delivering the drug benefit. Critics like to say that the Medicare "Part D" program, which will provide prescription drug coverage for seniors starting Jan. 1, is an expansion of an already … [Read more...] about Sizing Up Criticism of New Medicare Drug Benefit
Sizing Up Criticism of New Medicare Drug Benefit
The new Medicare drug benefit for seniors has been criticized as too big, too small and too complicated. What's seldom reported is that it is a novel system designed to stimulate private sector competition in delivering the drug benefit. Critics like to say that the Medicare "Part D" program, which will provide prescription drug coverage for seniors starting Jan. 1, is an expansion of an already … [Read more...] about Sizing Up Criticism of New Medicare Drug Benefit
Bold Moves
The tax reform panel, charged by President Bush with making bold recommendations to overhaul the federal tax code, is seriously considering a change that would cap the amount that employees can exclude from taxable income in the form of health insurance. As you know, health policy experts and economists strongly believe that this open-ended tax break is a root cause of spiraling health insurance … [Read more...] about Bold Moves
Good News All Around
Assurant Health, which markets health insurance to individuals and small groups, has produced new data on who is buying Health Savings Accounts: The good news we've seen in earlier surveys by this company - and others - continues to hold true. HSAs are increasingly attractive to the uninsured: 44% of people applying for an HSA with Assurant did not report having prior insurance coverage, up from … [Read more...] about Good News All Around
A European Warning
The Senate still threatens to pass legislation that would allow imports of drugs from abroad to take advantage of other countries' price controls. But two recent conferences in Washington featuring European health care experts shed new light on the dangers. "Once you allow the importation of drugs from Europe, you allow the importation of drugs from everywhere," British security expert Graham … [Read more...] about A European Warning
HSAs and the States: Lifting the Barriers
Since late 2003 when the federal government cleared the way for health savings accounts coupled with high-deductible health plans, the market for such plans has blossomed. Recent surveys and media reports show that more and more businesses are or soon will be offering health savings account (HSA) plans. While this is excellent news for health care consumers, there are still many state government … [Read more...] about HSAs and the States: Lifting the Barriers
HSAs and the States: Lifting the Barriers
Since late 2003 when the federal government cleared the way for health savings accounts coupled with high-deductible health plans, the market for such plans has blossomed. Recent surveys and media reports show that more and more businesses are or soon will be offering health savings account (HSA) plans. While this is excellent news for health care consumers, there are still many state government … [Read more...] about HSAs and the States: Lifting the Barriers
Spending Storm
Hurricane Katrina has created a spending storm on Capitol Hill, with intense battles over how to deliver aid that reflect basic differences in political philosophy. Traditionalists would increase spending on existing programs - which already is happening big time - but others would create new incentives by lowering taxes, getting government regulation out of the way, and empowering people to make … [Read more...] about Spending Storm