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Category Archives: Health Care
The Real Economic Implications of Our Senior Entitlements Challenge
by Paul Kasriel, The Econtrarian Economics is art masquerading as science. Demographics is not only science, but destiny. Chart 1 shows the changing demographics of America. It shows the rising trend in the proportion of senior “takers” in America. Back … Continue reading
Posted in Government, Health Care, Retirement
Tagged consumer confidence, Economy, Federal Reserve, GDP, Paul Kasriel
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The Great Debate©: Is Healthcare a Right?
Editor’s note: Three weeks ago GEI published an Opinion article by Michael Kulla entitled “Health Care Paradox: Red Tap, Lobbies, Political Posturing . . . and Sick People.” The following article was submitted to discuss and debate some of the … Continue reading
Posted in Health Care, aa syndication
Tagged health care, Healthcare, is healthcare a right, Michael Kulla, Miles Hoffman
2 Comments
Potential Hidden Benefits from Obamacare
by Elliott Morss Introduction We hear a lot about: Universal coverage; Nobody can be refused insurance because of pre-existing conditions; Children cover under parents’ insurance until 26; Insurance companies cannot drop you because you get sick. But there is a … Continue reading
Obamacare: Will Insurance Pooling Lower Consumer Costs?
by Leemore Dafny, NBER Private health insurance plays a pivotal role in the U.S. healthcare system. Private insurers account for one out of every three dollars spent on healthcare, and even this figure understates the importance of the sector: many … Continue reading
Posted in Health Care, NBER, Studies
Tagged Affordable Care Act, insurance, insurance premiums, Leemore Dafny, NBER, obamacare, pooling, private insurance, tort reform
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Healthcare: An Economic Cancer
by Big Issues Today
This article is about the economics of healthcare. It is instructive to consider an example of one of the most devastating and costly diseases as a metaphor for the problems that the U.S. healthcare system faces – out of control growth. Continue reading
Posted in Health Care
Tagged Big Issues Today, health care, Healthcare, healthcare costs, insurance
2 Comments
Recession Still Likely Despite Bump In GDP
by Guest Authors Lance Roberts of Streettalk Live
Consumers Gone Wild! I have this image in my head of shoppers running about frantically over the last quarter shelling out dollars at everything that isn’t nailed down to the floor. That was the general consensus Friday after the GDP report came out showing a lift from 1.3% to 2.5% primarily on the back of the consumer, as shown in the chart. However, the real question is where did the money come from? Continue reading
Posted in Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI), Consumer Sentiment, Economic Indicators (USA), Employment, GDP, Health Care, Personal Income and Consumption, economic predictions, other economic forecasts
Tagged CFNAI, consumer spending, disposable income, GDP, Lance Roberts, NFIB, PCE, recession, savings
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Christopher Magee Interview: Impressions of Singapore
Prof. Christopher Magee, MIT, discusses his experiences in helping to establish a technical university in Singapore. Continue reading
More on Why Health Care Costs are so High
One of the factors driving health care costs is supply-driven care. John Wennberg and his research partners at the Dartmouth Atlas Working Group on practice variations deserve credit for documenting supply-driven care[1]. What does it mean? It means that doctors and hospitals focus on generating revenues rather than good health at the lowest cost.
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US Health Care Costs – Why So High?
The US pays far more for health care than any other nation but gets less. On generally accepted indicators of health care quality, the US ranks at the bottom of the OECD country rankings. Continue reading
Posted in Health Care
Tagged health, health care, health care costs, obesity, practice variations
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The US Health Care System – What Really Needs Fixing
Despite the complexity of the new health care legislation, the fundamental US health care problem is simple; it pays too much for what it gets. This point is documented below along with ideas on how the problem might be remedied. The US spends more by far than any other OECD country on health care, and gets the lowest payoff.
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Obesity and Health Costs
The world is experiencing an obesity epidemic. Even the UN has conceded there are more obese than hungry people, even in developing countries! Over the entire planet 15% of the world’s population is overweight; 5% is obese. Among developed nations, the US has more obese people than any other by far: two easy stats to remember: two thirds of adult Americans are overweight; one third is obese.
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Health Care and Obesity: A Global Dilemma
The health care cost of obesity is significant and obesity has become an epidemic in much of the developed world, with the U.S. leading the way. In the US, health reform has been debated in the process leading up to the passage of the Patient Protection and Afforable Health Care Act in 2010. But an expensive contributor to health care costs gets little attention: overweight and obese people. Two easy numbers to remember:
Two-thirds of Americans are overweight;
One-third are obese.
Beyond the US, there is a global obesity epidemic. And in the least developed nations, the number of obese children now exceeds the number underfed. Continue reading
Posted in Health Care
Tagged health, health care, health care costs, obesity, overweight
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Nutrition Scoring: NuVal™ vs. ANDI – But What Info Is Really Needed?
Two widely used nutritional scoring systems show almost zero correlation. While this appears to make chosing between them a necessity, what information is really needed by consumers who are searching for a way to eat healthier? Perhaps other factors than nutritional scoring are more important? Dr. Morss says he is not a nutritional expert but he does point out some very significant things to think about. Continue reading
Defensive Medicine: A Non-Factor in Escalating Health Care Costs?
A new study suggests that “defensive medicine” and malpractice insurance costs are much less that has previously been thought. Continue reading
Posted in Health Care
Tagged defensive medicine, Healthcare, malpractice, Michelle M. Mello, Paduda, Yves Smith
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Reducing Healthcare Costs in India: Distruptive Technology and Business Model Innovation
Entreprenuerial activities in rural areas of India have the potential to create significant economic growth for that country. One example is discussed in detail involving dramatic advances in the availability of low cost health care through the implementation of wireless network technology. Continue reading
Posted in Health Care, India
Tagged Aavind, Bottom Of Pyramid Consumer, Business Innovation, Disruptive Technology, Healthcare, India, Tamil Nadu
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Is Increasing Health Care Cost Stifling Business Growth?
In 2010, increasing health care costs do not appear to be a significant factor in hiring decisions be employers. Employers are essentially transferring increased costs to employee contributions. Continue reading
