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Don’t Destroy Medicare Advantage

Don’t Destroy Medicare Advantage

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, John Goodman says the Medicare Advantage program is arguably our best health care system, while Medicaid is the worst. Yet essentially the same private insurers are involved in administering both programs, just as they are the main players managing employer plans and (Obamacare) exchange plans.

The best feature of the MA program is that these plans are the only plans in the whole health care system that actually try to attract sick enrollees. That’s because they get risk adjusted premiums that reflect the higher cost of care.

Right now, MA enrollees save about $2,500 to $3,000 a year when they choose an MA plan over traditional Medicare. A House bill introduced by Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and 40 other liberal Democrats would eliminate those savings as well as free extra benefits (hearing, eye and dental care, etc.) MA plans provide.

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What is Socialism?

What is Socialism?

If you can believe the polls, socialism is more popular than ever. Gallop says that roughly two-thirds of Democrats have a positive view of socialism. The same is true for half of young adults. But what exactly is socialism? If it means anything it means a lack of economic freedom. In a socialist world, people are not at liberty to engage in free exchange with each other. Every economic transaction is regulated or potentially regulated by the state.

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Social Security Shortfall: More Than Twice What the Trustees Say It Is

Social Security Shortfall: More Than Twice What the Trustees Say It Is

In their latest report, the Social Security Trustees tell us that the program has an unfunded liability of $29.3 trillion. But back on page 231 of the latest report (where they hope no one will see it?) we learn that the real deficit is $71.9 trillion, more than two times the size of our GDP. Professor Laurence Kotlikoff explains the deception in a recent post. More.

 

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How Market Innovation Is Reframing the Climate Debate

How Market Innovation Is Reframing the Climate Debate

By all accounts, climate change alarmists are on the defensive—politically, scientifically, I would even say morally (see Bill Gates’s comment). We could leave it at that. But there may be hope for a truce in this conflict—and if so, capitalism can take the credit.

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The US Ponzi Scheme — Transferring from Young Savers to Old Spenders

The US Ponzi Scheme — Transferring from Young Savers to Old Spenders

In 1960, 70-year-olds consumed, on average, about 70 percent of what 40-year-olds consumed. Today they consume about 140 percent!

The US has spent the postwar passing the generational bucket. It has done by borrowing on the books, but primarily off the books. As discussed here, our underfunded official and unofficial obligations to younger generations have reduced US to a position of complete fiscal insolvency. Indeed, we’re now in far worse fiscal shape than is Italy. Yes, Italy’s ratio of official debt to GDP is still higher than that of the US. But its off-the-books liabilities are far smaller as a share of GDP. More

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Peter Ferrara, RIP

Peter Ferrara, RIP

Peter Ferrara was a graduate of Harvard Law School. He could have been a wealthy DC lawyer. Instead, he spent his life in the less remunerative world of ideas. Peter was one of a kind. We are unlikely to see someone like him again.

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To Save Rural Health Care, Bring It Out of The Dark Ages

To Save Rural Health Care, Bring It Out of The Dark Ages

This op ed is based on a longer publication here on our web site. The federal government is offering the states $50 billion over the next five years, and it’s up to the states to propose ways of spending the money. John Goodman has a number of proposals, including use of drones, greater use of telemedicine along with free market pricing, direct primary care, and deregulation of the hospital sector, health insurance and medical practice law.

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Rural Health Care

Rural Health Care

The federal government is offering the states $50 billion over the next five years, and its up to the states to propose ways of spending the money. John Goodman has a number of proposals, including use of drones, greater use of telemedicine along with free market pricing, direct primary care, and deregulation of the hospital sector, health insurance and medical practice law. Click to view the Publication.

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