https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2025/12/09/high-deductible-health-plans-were-never-going-to-solve-high-healthcare-costs/2025-12-11T22:33:50+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2025/11/17/when-private-equity-firms-take-over-emergency-departments-more-patients-die/2025-11-17T21:12:32+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2025/10/19/do-not-resuscitate-scheme-by-unitedhealth-group-shows-private-health-insurance-companies-are-the-real-death-panels/2025-10-19T17:30:39+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2025/07/08/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-will-mean-big-healthcare-costs-for-citizens-hospitals/2025-07-08T15:57:12+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/11/14/what-happens-to-pences-hip-2-0-if-obamacare-is-repealed/2025-06-27T00:22:50+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/about/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/daniel-dougan.jpgDaniel Douganhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/danprofilepic.jpgDaniel Dougan2025-06-27T00:01:01+00:00weekly0.6https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2025/06/26/pediatrician-in-congress-schools-rfk-jr-on-vaccination/2025-06-26T23:10:09+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2024/12/10/can-anything-good-come-out-of-murder-of-unitedhealthcare-ceo/2024-12-10T04:13:30+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2024/10/25/abortion-is-healthcare-and-lies-lead-to-bad-health-policy/2024-10-25T14:53:57+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2021/09/28/you-hate-your-health-insurance-company-for-the-same-reason-you-hate-your-cable-company/2021-09-28T03:02:59+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2020/01/24/wait-times-are-still-a-problem-in-canada/2020-01-25T21:22:32+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2019/04/02/is-private-health-insurance-as-beloved-as-trump-says/2019-04-02T22:41:42+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2019/03/02/patently-ridiculous-pharma-companies-use-gimmicks-to-extend-patents-almost-indefinitely/2019-03-02T14:16:51+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2018/10/10/democrats-hammer-republicans-on-lawsuit-seeking-to-void-obamacare-without-mentioning-it-by-name/2018-10-10T13:53:49+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2018/08/10/gofundme-ceo-1-3-of-crowdsourcing-campaigns-are-for-medical-bills/2018-08-10T00:28:26+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2018/08/03/trumps-short-term-plans-that-can-renew-for-up-to-3-years-arent-worth-the-paper-theyre-printed-on/2018-08-03T16:14:06+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2018/07/28/women-are-dying-needlessly-during-childbirth-in-u-s-hospitals/2018-07-28T02:16:43+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2018/06/03/high-deductible-health-plans-break-their-cost-saving-promises/2018-06-03T17:01:32+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/10/08/the-collision-of-medical-privacy-laws-and-celebrity/2017-06-12T20:15:13+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2017/04/26/freestanding-ers-confuse-patients-especially-when-they-get-the-bill/2017-04-26T18:30:30+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2017/03/08/health-policy-wonks-of-all-stripes-agree-gop-health-plan-is-terrible/2017-03-08T15:20:27+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2017/02/15/many-trump-voters-will-be-hurt-the-most-by-repealing-obamacare/2017-02-15T16:02:16+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2017/01/24/did-aetna-use-its-participation-in-the-exchanges-as-leverage-to-get-its-merger-approved/2017-01-24T22:32:19+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2017/01/20/gop-health-reform-fantasies/2017-01-20T21:10:34+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/10/25/results-on-the-obamacare-experiment-are-mixed/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/obamacare-total-spending.pngobamacare-total-spendinghttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/obamacare-health-costs.jpgobamacare-health-costs2016-10-25T21:39:31+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/09/16/health-insurance-can-literally-be-a-life-or-death-issue/2016-09-16T16:32:01+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/06/29/republicans-choose-poison-pills-over-zika-virus-prevention/2016-06-29T23:40:21+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/06/06/john-oliver-buys-and-forgives-15-million-in-medical-debt/2016-06-06T13:43:18+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/05/10/colorado-amendment-69-vs-the-clusterfk-u-s-health-system/2016-05-10T13:45:50+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/03/18/are-medical-marijuana-laws-just-a-gateway-drug/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/medical-marijuana-billboard.jpgmedical marijuana billboardThis "trusted and experienced" California medical marijuana doctor, advertises with billboards. She also has a website at www.doc420.com.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/governing-website-marijuana-map-2015.pnggoverning-website-marijuana-map-2015Although cannabis is still illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, many 23 states and the District of Columbia have passed their own laws allowing marijuana for medical or even recreational use. Source: Governing, 2015.2016-03-18T08:49:51+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/03/09/whos-paying-for-the-unpaid-medical-bills/2016-03-09T17:19:17+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/01/31/the-elephant-or-donkey-in-the-room-part-3-on-the-fiscal-crisis-facing-medicare-and-medicaid/2016-01-31T21:53:25+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2016/01/06/the-giant-sucking-sound-of-waste-in-the-health-system/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/health-spending-gdp1.pngHealth Spending GDPHealth expenditures in the USA have grown considerably over the years as a percentage of GDP. In 1992, health expenditures accounted for just over 13 percent of GDP. In 2014, health expenditures accounted for 17.4 percent of GDP. Note: Percentage of GDP does not need to be adjusted for inflation or population growth...it's a constant statistic.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/all-govt-health-spending.pngAll Govt Health SpendingIn 1992, local, state and federal health care spending accounted for 4.89 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. By 2020, government health spending is projected to account for 7.73 percent of U.S. GDP. Note: Since the measurement is percentage of GDP instead of dollars, there is no need to adjust for inflation.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/health-spending.pnghealth spending2016-01-06T21:49:53+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/10/29/its-called-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-not-the-cheap-health-insurance-premiums-act/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/health-premium-chart.pngHealth premium chartSuppose an insurer has to cover 10 subscribers and expects to incur claims totaling $5,600 per month for all of them. Assuming that the insurer is operating on an 80% medical loss ratio, the insurer would need to collect $7,000 in premiums each month from the group. Before PPACA, the sickest members of the group ( Lois, Marcia and Randy) paid much higher premiums than the others. But after PPACA, community rating took away all medical underwriting, forcing insurers to charge everyone in the group the same premium, regardless of health status. That increased premiums for the healthier members of the pool but also decreased premiums for the sicker members of the pool who needed more health care.2015-10-29T17:19:14+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/11/24/if-you-like-your-plan-you-can-keep-it-and-other-half-truths/2015-09-21T16:52:44+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/07/21/its-4-a-m-is-your-doctor-online/2015-07-21T18:37:38+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/05/30/the-elephant-or-donkey-in-the-room-part-2-on-the-fiscal-crisis-facing-medicare-and-medicaid/2015-05-30T23:02:55+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/04/30/want-to-save-babies-focus-on-improving-womens-health-not-picketing-planned-parenthood/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infantmortalitychart4.pngUS not getting much valueDespite spending more than any other nation on earth for health care per capita, the United States (depicted on the far righthand side of the chart) still lags behind many other countries in terms of infant mortality and abortion rates. Although the United States is not the worst performer on the list in terms of abortion and infant mortality, countries like Mexico and Estonia spend far less on health care per person. Please note that lower numbers for all variables always indicate better performance in this chart.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infantmortalitychart3.pngUS lags behind in infant mortality, abortionDespite spending more than any other nation on earth for health care per capita, the United States (depicted on the far righthand side of the chart) still lags behind many other countries in terms of infant mortality and abortion rates. Although the United States is not the worst performer on the list in terms of abortion and infant mortality, countries like Mexico and Estonia spend far less on health care per person. Please note that lower numbers for all variables always indicate better performance in this chart.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infantmortalitychart2.pngUS not getting value for money spentDespite spending more than any other nation on earth for health care per capita, the United States still lags behind many other countries in terms of infant mortality and abortion rates. Please note that lower numbers for all variables always indicate better performance in this chart.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infantmortalitychart1.pngHealth outcomes by countryDespite spending the most on health care, the United States has fallen behind many other countries in terms of infant mortality and the rate of abortion.https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/infantmortalitychart.pnginfantmortalitychartEven though the USA spends the most on healthcare, it's not getting good value for the money when it comes to saving babies.2015-04-27T12:03:14+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/12/09/the-elephant-or-donkey-in-the-room-part-1-on-the-fiscal-crisis-facing-medicare/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/dualeligibles.pngDual EligiblesAs of 2008, there were 9 million "dual eligibles" receiving both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cbo-projections1.pngCBO projectionsIn 1974, federal government expenditures on major health care programs accounted for 1 percent of gross domestic product. They have already ballooned to 4.8 percent and are projected to expand further to 6.1 percent by 2024 unless we change something. Source: Congressional Budget Office. The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014 to 2024https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/medicare-projections.pngMedicare ProjectionsMedicare Data for Calendar Year, 2013. Highlighting added by the author of this blog. Source: 2014 Medicare Trustees Report2015-03-31T11:14:30+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/03/23/more-good-news-for-obamacare-and-bad-news-for-those-who-want-to-repeal-it/2015-03-23T17:30:04+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/03/02/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-republicans/2015-03-02T18:17:50+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2015/01/16/replace-obamacare-with-what-republicans-cant-agree-with-each-other/2015-01-16T21:35:03+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/12/11/medical-debts-are-killing-americans-credit/2014-12-11T13:37:36+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/12/10/free-market-rationing-and-waitlists-for-elective-surgery/2014-12-10T19:52:17+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/05/17/the-u-s-health-care-system-leading-the-world-in-all-the-wrong-ways/2014-11-24T18:01:01+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/25/the-adverse-selection-death-spiral/2014-11-24T17:59:13+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/01/26/still-think-we-can-solve-health-care-with-free-market-principles-just-go-to-the-er/2014-11-11T14:46:35+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/11/05/bleeding-belgium-is-an-ironic-historical-illusion-for-public-health/https://thehealthpolicywonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rapeofbelgium-171105-nytribune.jpgRape of Belgium propagandaThis propaganda piece appeared on page 14 of the New York Tribune on November 5, 1917. It made the emotional case that the United States needed to go to war to protect Belgium from Germany as a matter of U.S. national security.2014-11-05T18:30:57+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/10/15/how-the-epa-might-save-us-from-ebola/2014-10-15T20:04:57+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/10/10/protect-yourself-from-an-epidemic-far-deadlier-than-ebola/2014-10-10T13:38:10+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/10/07/still-a-long-way-to-go-in-reducing-medical-errors/2014-10-07T20:10:35+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2009/02/27/mixed-feelings-about-obamas-medical-marijuana-policy/2014-10-06T16:18:57+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/08/13/the-aca-is-bringing-years-of-solvency-to-the-medicare-trust-fund/2014-08-13T12:13:36+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/07/22/obamacare-under-assault-from-disingenuous-people-looking-for-loopholes-and-political-gain/2014-07-22T19:23:21+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/07/08/what-the-burwell-v-hobby-lobby-decision-really-means-for-womens-health-care/2014-07-08T14:56:09+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/05/27/the-healthy-indiana-plan-2-0-as-a-form-of-medicaid-expansion-part-2-policy-analysis/2014-07-08T14:53:10+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/06/16/were-last-again-u-s-health-care-ranks-poorly-nbc-news/2014-06-16T20:52:46+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/06/02/anti-vaccine-conspiracy-theorists-allow-measles-to-come-roaring-back/2016-06-22T19:12:40+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/05/21/the-healthy-indiana-plan-2-0-as-a-form-of-medicaid-expansion-part-1-background/2014-07-30T20:49:43+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/05/10/new-video-games-address-todays-health-problems/2014-05-17T23:46:37+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/04/30/standards-based-siloes/2014-05-01T14:15:54+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/04/03/never-underestimate-procrastination/2014-04-03T15:24:46+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/22/obamacare-exchanges-the-number-of-people-who-enroll-is-less-important-than-who-enrolls/2014-03-22T00:45:43+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/17/new-healthcare-gov-ads-smartly-target-young-athletic-types-who-feel-invincible/2014-03-16T22:16:37+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/16/affordable-care-act-is-a-burning-platform-for-change/2014-03-16T16:24:32+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2009/12/18/my-two-cents-on-health-reform/2014-03-16T15:54:33+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2011/12/10/health-care-reform-really-is-a-big-ing-deal/2014-03-16T15:53:54+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2013/05/29/how-it-will-make-the-affordable-care-act-work-for-americans/2014-03-16T15:53:08+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/11/obamacare-is-already-reducing-the-number-of-uninsured-americans/2014-03-16T15:52:28+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/14/public-health-is-health-care-too/2014-03-14T02:52:01+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/10/old-posts-new-site/2014-03-10T04:11:54+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2014/03/10/why-you-should-care-about-health-policy/2014-03-10T04:07:19+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/2012/06/30/perverse-incentives-and-unintended-consequences-everywhere/2014-03-10T03:47:08+00:00monthlyhttps://thehealthpolicywonk.com/useful-resources/2014-03-10T02:29:48+00:00weekly0.6https://thehealthpolicywonk.comdaily1.02025-12-11T22:33:50+00:00