Brad Wright hosted the most recent Health Wonk Review at his excellent blog, Wright on Health, and it’s a must-read. Or in some cases, a must-watch. Check out healthpolicy.tv, a resource submitted to the HWR by Jared Rhoads. Plenty of good stuff on there, with viewpoints from a variety of political perspectives.
And also don’t miss Joe Paduda’s excellent take on another measure of Obamacare’s success: how well health plans do at improving health outcomes and lowering costs. He explains a lot of the changes we’ll likely see in the coming years, now that underwriting can no longer be used to control costs. The end result is likely to be a healthier population, as insurers take a more proactive approach to maintaining health and minimizing medical expenses.
Another of my favorites in this edition comes from Anthony Wright, dissecting President Obama’s appearance on Between Two Ferns with Zack Galifianakis. It’s pretty funny to watch the video clip, and Anthony’s take-away points are spot-on. One key aspect: The “young invincibles” are mainly uninsured because they often don’t have access to employer coverage and they can’t afford to buy their own coverage. If they can afford coverage, they tend to purchase it. And that’s where the ACA comes in, making health insurance much more affordable for people with entry-level incomes.