You can find competing private health insurance plans with community rated premiums and government sponsored risk adjustment in Belgium, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands and Switzerland – where participation is mandatory. Ireland and Australia have voluntary enrollment, as does Medicare Advantage and the (Obamacare) marketplaces in the United States.
Category: Cost of Healthcare
Wokeness Invades the Doctor’s Office
This is Dr. Stanley Goldfarb in the Wall Street Journal:
The National Library of Medicine database shows more than 2,700 recent papers on “racism and medicine,” which generally purport to show physician bias leading to racial disparities in health outcomes. Yet the most commonly cited studies are shoddily designed, ignore such critical factors as pre-existing conditions, or reach predetermined and sensationalized conclusions that aren’t supported by reported results. These papers in turn are used to source even more shoddy research.
Consumer Reports: Mail order may be cheaper when shopping for drugs
Nearly two-thirds of adults (62%) take at least one prescription drug. Of Americans on a drug, nearly one-third (30%) report either not filling a prescription or not taking it as directed due to the cost. Even people with prescription drug coverage often find drug copays are costly. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, the average copay for a generic drug is only $12 but many copays are much higher.
Obamacare at Age 12
Would anyone buy an Obamacare plan without a huge subsidy? For people not getting a subsidy, if you combine the average premium and the average deductible last year, they had to pay $25,000 before getting any benefits from the plan. Narrow provider networks exclude the best doctors and the best hospitals. The relationship between buyer…