Category Archives: Health Care Reform

Should Essential Health Benefits Be Left Up to the States?

Posted on January 13, 2012 by

The Department of Health and Human Services, in leaving the decision on “essential health benefits” up to individual states, is wasting a singular opportunity to make our health care system more rational and more cost effective. Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Reform, Health Plan Finance | 8 Comments

Is the Individual Mandate Too Weak to Work?

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

Is the individual mandate too weak? Is the penalty for not buying health insurance too low? In the first year, especially, it’s only $95 or 1 percent of an adult’s income, whichever’s greater. Far, far less than health insurance costs. Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Reform | 4 Comments

Health Care Reform Can’t Work Without the Individual Mandate

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

As health care reform heads to the Supreme Court, it’s important to consider that the individual mandate is a critical component of the law. There is simply no way insurance companies can cover everybody unless everybody buys insurance. Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Reform | 1 Comment

A Head Start on Health

Posted on October 26, 2011 by

It struck me when thinking about the Swiss health care system that fixing health care in the U.S. has a lot in common with fixing schools. Both health care and education are widely seen as troubled in this country. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Reform | 5 Comments