Insurance is what makes U.S. health-care prices so high. The sheer profit margins of insurance companies are staggering. They extract a significant portion of every healthcare dollar spent, far exceeding the administrative costs of government programs like Medicare. This stark contrast undermines the frequent claim that private corporations are inherently more efficient than government.
Insurance is what makes U.S. health-care prices so high because the system incentivizes cost inflation. Regulations like the Affordable Care Act’s 80/20 rule, while intending to control costs, inadvertently contribute to the problem. The rule mandates that insurers spend at least 80% of premiums on healthcare; however, the remaining 20% – allocated for administrative costs, overhead, and marketing – also includes profits.… Continue reading
The public reaction to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson reveals widespread anger towards the US healthcare system. Online platforms exploded with gleeful mockery, personal anecdotes of insurance struggles, and jokes about Thompson’s death, reflecting deep-seated frustration with the system’s high costs, denials of care, and lack of transparency. This response, ranging from social media to news comment sections, underscores the significant portion of the population who view the current system as failing to meet their needs. The incident even propelled a fourteen-year-old book criticizing insurance company practices to the top of Amazon’s bestsellers. This collective outrage highlights the pervasive discontent with a profit-driven healthcare system that leaves many financially destitute or even dead.
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Florida’s delay of KidCare expansion, impacting 40,000 children, stems from a dispute over a federal rule mandating continuous coverage. The state, having lost a court challenge to this rule, seeks a Trump administration reversal. Florida officials argue the Biden administration’s approval included unnecessary conditions and requested a 30-day extension to coordinate with the incoming administration. This delay exacerbates the situation for affected families, following the recent loss of Medicaid for 532,000 children after the end of pandemic-era coverage.
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