Economic Burden of Health Care

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The Astronomical Price of Insulin Hurts American Families

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and nearly a quarter of them use insulin to manage their symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications. The price they have to pay for insulin is more than ten times higher than the average prices in 32 other countries combined.

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Why Are Drug Prices So High in the United States?

Ezekiel J. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. In 2018, he delivered the Albert P. Williams Lecture on Health Policy at RAND, where he offered a framework for thinking about drug pricing.

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Extending Marketplace Tax Credits Would Make Coverage More Affordable for Middle-Income Adults

Paying for health care coverage is a challenge for Americans facing rising premiums, deductibles, and copayments. The ACA's tax credits that make marketplace insurance more affordable for lower-income individuals should be extended to middle-income adults aged 50–64.

Jodi L. Liu @jodilliu, Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

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Removing Maternity Care and Mental Health Treatment from Coverage Requirements Would Reduce Premiums, but Lead to Significant Spending Increases for Some Consumers

The American Health Care Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act allows states to waive benefits that the ACA deemed “essential.” Dropping maternity care coverage, for example, would reduce premiums by 5 percent but increase out-of-pocket spending for new mothers.

Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner, Christopher M. Whaley @cm_whaley

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What Happens If the ACA's Tax Credits Are Replaced with Premium Support?

As policymakers consider alternatives to reduce the federal government's financial burden from providing subsidies under the ACA, they should consider the consequences for enrollees. Existing premium-support models yield considerable savings for the federal government but could create age and income disparities in coverage.

Evan Saltzman, Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

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Why Obamacare Lives

Economic reasoning took center stage in the Supreme Court's decision on Thursday to uphold the legality of the Affordable Care Act's subsidies in all states.

Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

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Demographics Add Urgency for Action on Dementia Long-Term Care

Dementia takes a huge toll on those afflicted with it. But it also has major consequences for those who must care for them, most often family and friends.

Esther M. Friedman

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Is the ACA Keeping a Lid on Growth in Healthcare Spending?

Some point to the healthcare spending slowdown as an early success of the Affordable Care Act. Others warn that it's merely a hangover from the recession, and that the inevitable spending rebound will be exacerbated by the ACA coverage expansions.

Chapin White

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A Global Focus on Dementia

The Group of 8 industrial nations is convening a special session to seek an international approach to dementia research at a time the disease is being recognized as a 21st century global health crisis of historic proportions.

Regina A. Shih @ReginaShih

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Will the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable?

Out-of-pocket spending on health care will decrease for both the newly insured as well as for those changing their source of insurance. These decreases will be largest for those who would otherwise be uninsured.

Christine Eibner @Chrissyeibner

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Covering Emergency Care for Young Adults: Is the ACA Doing Its Job?

The dependent coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act is working as intended, say Andrew Mulcahy and Katherine Harris. In 2011, it spared individuals and hospitals from $147 million in emergency room costs.

Andrew W. Mulcahy @AndrewWMulcahy, Katherine M. Harris

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The Cost of Dementia: Who Will Pay?

It is time for the government in partnership with industry to return to the drawing board to craft a plan that will provide protection for the more than 9 million people who will need care for dementia by 2040, writes Michael D. Hurd.

Michael D. Hurd

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Dementia's Growing Cost to Caregivers

At the rate that the U.S. population is aging, the total cost of dementia could reach half a trillion dollars a year by 2040. Those who care for impaired relatives and friends are acutely aware of the effects of dementia, and unfortunately they are all too familiar with its costs, writes Kathleen J. Mullen.

Kathleen J. Mullen

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The Economic Promise of Malaria Reduction

Better understanding of how malaria reduction affects different households, regions, and economic sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa could allow policymakers to assess alternative intervention strategies and allocate resources more efficiently and effectively.

Priscillia Hunt, Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens, et al.

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Frist Calls Healthcare System 'Messy' but He's Optimistic

During a panel discussion at RAND's Politics Aside event, Bill Frist, a medical doctor and former Senate majority leader, says the healthcare industry faces serious obstacles but he believes it ultimately will find its way.

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Rising Health Care Costs and the Middle Class

A new RAND study finds that rising health care costs reduce the availability of and enrollment in employment-based private health insurance, and the financial protection provided by it, especially for middle class families.