By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Therapy?
    June 14, 2022
    mental health loss loved one
    Covering Your Own Medical Issues After Losing a Loved One
    July 21, 2024
    healthcare SaaS
    Venture Capital Trends for Healthcare SaaS Platforms
    May 24, 2024
    Latest News
    Cigarette Makers Sue the FDA Over New Labeling Rules
    July 8, 2025
    End-Use Verification: Simple but Potentially Powerful
    July 8, 2025
    How Much do Financial Incentives Matter to Physicians?
    July 8, 2025
    NanoViricides Reports Positive Anti-viral Effect of HIV Drug
    July 8, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Health Reform is a Matter of Life and Death
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform is a Matter of Life and Death
Policy & Law

Health Reform is a Matter of Life and Death

JohnCGoodman
JohnCGoodman
Share
5 Min Read
cancer survival rates by patients
SHARE

The graph below shows cancer survival rates by patients, depending on their health insurance status. It was posted last Thursday by Sarah Kliff, who says she got it from Zeke Emanuel, the former White House health advisor who helped shape the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).

The graph below shows cancer survival rates by patients, depending on their health insurance status. It was posted last Thursday by Sarah Kliff, who says she got it from Zeke Emanuel, the former White House health advisor who helped shape the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).

cancer survival rates by patientsI haven’t seen the study and it may not withstand scrutiny. It seems to contradict the economics literature, which finds that health insurance has very little impact on mortality.  But since it comes from “the other side” so to speak, I am going to take it as valid for present purposes.

What do you conclude by looking at this chart? My answer is below the fold.

More Read

Fighting Anti-Abortion Legislation with Humor
4 Ways Health Care Is Different from Other Industries
5 Benefits of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) in Healthcare
Health Awareness Observances for the Month of July
Health In Your 60s: How To Prevent Common Conditions

 We are about to spend $1.8 trillion over the next ten years insuring about 32 million people. About half of the newly insured will go into Medicaid and half will get private insurance. If the above chart is to be believed, which half you’re in makes a real difference.

That tiny little sliver of difference between the green line and the red line is the differential survival between those who are uninsured and those who are in Medicaid. Even after five years, the differential survival is a little more than 1%.

So why are we spending all that money if the impact on health is so small? It gets worse. The actual additions to the Medicaid population will be much greater than the newly insured. Given the opportunity, many people who currently have private coverage will drop their insurance to take advantage of free insurance from Medicaid. In fact, estimates are that 50% or more of people who become newly eligible for Medicaid will drop their private insurance to take advantage of free government coverage.

That implies that for millions of people we are about to spend billions of dollars and may — after all is said and done — leave them worse off than if we had done nothing at all!

There is more bad news. Many of the people who are newly insured with private coverage will be in health plans that are highly subsidized. We don’t really know what these plans will look like. However, if the Massachusetts model is followed, the subsidized private insurance plans will pay doctors and hospitals only a bit more than Medicaid pays. In other words a good part of the increase in private coverage may be nothing more than Medicaid plus.

And here again, given the opportunity to have free private coverage that pays, say, 10% over Medicaid, many people will drop their standard BlueCross coverage to take advantage of the offer. In so doing they will be giving up coverage that promises a greater chance of survival for coverage that reduces those chances.

The upshot is that the Affordable Care Act may actually lower overall health outcomes for the country as a whole!

You have to wonder why ObamaCare is so rigid. Why can’t people who qualify for Medicaid have the opportunity to opt into private coverage instead. For example, the average amount that Medicaid spends on an adult is about $3,000. The average amount spent on a child is $2,000. So why can’t we give the adults a $3,000 voucher and the children a $2,000 voucher and let them apply these amounts to private insurance premiums instead?

  

TAGGED:health insurance
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Health Care Buzz Today
Business
July 8, 2025
As We Mature (age), Things Change…
Orthopaedics
July 8, 2025
FDA Approves Roche (Genentech) Skin Cancer Drug–Zelboraf
Business
July 8, 2025
Smart Money on Pfizer?
Business
July 8, 2025

You Might also Like

Hospital Acquired Infections Are Down: But Is It Enough?

February 20, 2015
Health careHome Health

13 Common Myths About Organic CBD Oil, Debunked

March 2, 2019
careers in healthcare
CareerGlobal HealthcarePolicy & Law

How to Develop a Career in Healthcare

June 19, 2022

Did the Supreme Court Hearings Change People’s Minds About the Affordable Care Act?

April 25, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?