In my latest blog post for Learn Liberty, I take on arguments against decentralizing health care policy to the states on the grounds of fiscal capacity: So if federal ACA spending were cut or even zeroed out, why couldn’t states that like the legislation simply reinstate the same taxes and spending that the federal government … Continue reading The Health Care Shell Game: Why Not Leave Policy to the States?
Tag: PPACA
One of My 2013 Predictions Is Finally Coming True
I predicted Oklahoma would win its case against federal exchange subsidies. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has now ruled against the government on this issue. For more on this breaking news story, check out Jonathan Adler at Volokh.
Social Norms as Market Regulation: The Case of Pre-PPACA Nongroup Health Insurance
The debate over pre-PPACA (Obamacare) nongroup health insurance has heated up again recently, particularly on the issue of rescissions (cancellations of policies). John Goodman claims that before the PPACA, rescissions almost never happened except in cases of fraud. Nevertheless, one problem with the nongroup market in many states was denial of applications for coverage from … Continue reading Social Norms as Market Regulation: The Case of Pre-PPACA Nongroup Health Insurance
Other Californians Facing Health Law Sticker Shock
Not just my brother. From SFGate: They have been paying $7,200 a year for a bare-bones Kaiser Permanente health plan with a $5,000 per person annual deductible. "Kaiser told us the plan does not comply with Obamacare and the substitute will cost more than twice as much," about $15,000 per year, she says. This new … Continue reading Other Californians Facing Health Law Sticker Shock
My Brother’s Obamacare Experience
My brother is individually insured in California. Here's what's he says about what will happen to his insurance plan: More details on my forced insurance changes for 2014 (this is the complete summary provided by my insurer - I'm not cherry picking details): Premiums: same. Deductible: $3K -> 5K. Doctor copay: $40->60. Specialist copay: $40->70. … Continue reading My Brother’s Obamacare Experience
The Ted Cruz Shutdown Is Looking like the Charge of the Light Brigade
Apparently, if anyone can make Americans love Obamacare, it's Ted Cruz. What? Just look at the polls. There are brutal numbers for the GOP in a new Fox News poll, confirming numbers from an earlier Quinnipiac poll. Obama's job approval is up, support for Obamacare is up (opposition running at just 47-45 in the Q … Continue reading The Ted Cruz Shutdown Is Looking like the Charge of the Light Brigade
When Obamacare Really Kicks In
Most of the PPACA's most controversial provisions were backloaded until after this election. Unless Romney wins the presidency and Republicans at least make it close enough in the Senate that they can pick off a moderate Democrat or two on a roll-call, these provisions will start to kick in next year. Avik Roy explains: In … Continue reading When Obamacare Really Kicks In
Some Bad Arguments for the PPACA from Jonathan Gruber
Even though I disagree with much of its interpretation, I admire Jonathan Gruber's pre-PPACA research on health insurance markets. He's one of the most forthright and clear-headed advocates of government takeover of health insurance that I know. However, his recent defense of the law in The New Republic indulges some pretty blatant economic fallacies: But … Continue reading Some Bad Arguments for the PPACA from Jonathan Gruber
Chart of the Day
My only problem with the chart is its title. I don't think a simple bivariate correlation is enough to establish causality. But it's a suggestive piece of evidence, since both regime uncertainty and the employer mandate associated with the PPACA are plausibly related to slowing job growth.
PILEUS 