Health Care's Good News by Ezekiel J. Emanuel. The New York Times. February 14, 2013.
The rate of health care cost increases has declined for about a decade now for reasons not associated with the economic slowdown. Short-term increases in insurance premiums should also decline with the implementation of the insurance exchanges and the resulting competition. Emanuel states that now is not the time for complacency. He recommends that the 2016 Affordable Care Act target for the implementation of competitive bidding (2016) be stepped up. The success of demonstration projects underway now shows that more savings could be realized.
The Health Benefits That Cut Your Pay by David Goldman. The New York Times. January 16, 2013.
In this opinion piece, Goldman points out hidden costs of health care benefits that serve to reduce the money that could increase take-home salary. Hidden for most employees until this year is the employer share of health benefits. Then there is also Medicare contributions and general taxes and more. While conceding that the performance of single-payer systems is better than out "unique disaster," he believes there is a better way. He advocates giving insurance only for rare, major, and unpredictable illnesses. He would like to cover "everyone but not for everything." Routine and expected care would be covered from individual health savings.
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