President Obama has won a victory in the health care campaign, the first serious universal health care bill to get through a House of Congress ever. But, his real test will be in the upper house.
Health insurance
Senate rebate vote a blow to cost-effective health policy
Private health insurance is one of the most inefficient and expensive mechanisms for paying for health care. It’s time to pension it off, writes health policy analyst Jennifer Doggett.
Potter: fair healthier to come out against the insurers
Did Michael Moore’s documentary, Sicko, really make the communications head at a major US health insurer quit the industry? It did. And Wendell Potter now publicly advocates healthcare reform.
Revealed: The insurance lobby’s secret war on Michael Moore
A former insurance executive has reveals the secret, calculated tactics employed by the insurance industry to discredit Michael Moore’s healthcare documentary Sicko, including the use of “scare tactics” to manipulate politicians and the general public.
What the private health insurance industry’s fear campaign is really about
The Rudd Government is actually increasing the incentives for high income earners to hold private insurance, writes Ian McAuley.
Health insurers have $4.5bn invested in Big Tobacco
Harvard doctors investigated the stock interests of health and life insurance companies, and found they have nearly $4.5 billion invested in tobacco stocks.
Health insurance “reforms” entrench two-tier system
Contrary to glib press reports, the Budget changes to private health insurance actually increase support for the industry, and do more to embed a two-tier health system, writesIan McAuley.
Budget countdown: health caught in a catch 22
The more successful our health system, the longer Australians live — and the longer they will need aged care services of all varieties.
Maternity health reform has harmed women (but not obstetricians)
Tweaks designed to improve our system have resulted in out of control costs, increased suffering and injury to women and infants, and obstetricians now expecting to earn a million dollars a year, write Lesley Barclay, Sally Tracy and Sue Kildea.
Summit tale: I got picked for 2020 (but not in the cool group)
When it comes down to it, I suspect that being an economist at this Summit is not the ‘cool’ area, writes Joshua Gans.
