Individuals switch to consumer directed health plans (CDHP) in an effort to save money, and to have an insurance plan that accurately reflects their risk aversion and actuarial value. Such plans are cost effective for individuals with low risk of catastrophic (high cost) events because the plans are generally offered in connection with higher deductibles … Continue reading
Latest Entries
Limiting Managed Care to the Public Sector
This is an excerpt of a larger commentary, posted at partyhardpolitics.com Managed care in Medicaid has been very effectively sold to political conservatives based on its clear fiscal benefits. There is little doubt in the mind of a prudent economic thinker that giving a for-profit company financial responsibility for a patient’s health … Continue reading
Wellness Incentive Programs: A Double-Edged Sword
The principal tenet of the Epicurean philosophy proffers “that men’s lives should be governed by pleasure, not thoughtless self-indulgence, but pleasure rationally calculated” (West, 2008). With tranquility as the ideal, the epicurean lifestyle encourages indulgence in activities that promote harmony and pleasure. America’s zealous embrace of this philosophy has unfortunately resulted in the inclusion of … Continue reading
Sugar, Fake Sugar, Sugar That Will Give You Cancer
Pink, blue, yellow, green, white: what is your sweetener of choice? I just avoid adding it to my daily morning coffee completely. I see the real stuff as unnecessary calories in my day and the others as chemical substances that may give me cancer. The association of artificial sweeteners with cancer started in the 1970’s … Continue reading
A (Very Simple) Forecast of the Most Popular Type of Insurance
My overly simple linear forecasts about insurance types predict that high deductible health plans with savings options will soon have more enrollees than any other type of insurance. Why? I assume that it is due to the perceived low probability of maxing out on deductibles combined with the desires to pay as little per month … Continue reading
I See Your Royal Flush, But You Can’t Beat My Race Card…
As of late, our United States Attorney General the Honorable Eric Holder, has had a lot on his plate–most recently the House of Representatives contempt vote over the “Fast and Furious” strategy. I would imagine he is feeling just a little bit of pressure being the first US attorney general being held in contempt of … Continue reading
The Nebulous Nine
One might have imagined that there would be record numbers of campaign contributions following the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. 2012, however, is proving to be an unprecedented and unparalleled donation frenzy. Whether it’s taking your possible donors to Deer Valley, Utah or hosting dinners with Los Angeles celebrities, Obama and Romney … Continue reading
America’s Achilles’ Heel
The 21st Century has seen the world grow dependent on the Internet. Whether it’s remotely piloting drones from half a world away or sending an e-mail to a coworker half an office away, we rely on technology at an unprecedented level. And just as warfare evolved from land based armies fighting each other in lines … Continue reading
Ice Cream, Politics, and Spatial Competition
Here’s a riddle: Why does Burger King always build a new restaurant right across the street from a McDonalds? Anyone who drives past that particular street corner craving a cheeseburger can only choose to eat at one or the other. At first glance it seems like Burger King will only attract half the customers, sell … Continue reading
The Free Market Will Meet Demand. Just Look At Your Phone.
A recent article reported on House Majority Leader Eric Cantor saying the Republicans plan to repeal the entire health care law and then replace it slowly. This elicited several scathing comments claiming the party to be a failure for not having a replacement plan. However, law and policy makers should not rush to replace the … Continue reading
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